This week, the Irish Limousin Cattle Society has become the latest breed society to speak out against the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, which is due to be ratified in the coming weeks.

In a statement, society president Ann Hester outlined the detrimental effects the deal will have on the society and its members.

"We operate under some of the highest environmental, animal welfare, tractability and food safety standards in the world," she said.

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"Mercosur producers are not subject to the same regulatory framework, particularly in relation to hormone use, veterinary controls, environmental protections and deforestation.

"Allowing beef produced under lower standards to compete directly with Irish beef undermines the integrity of EU food policy and places Irish farmers at a severe disadvantage."

Rural Ireland

Hester also expressed serious concerns regarding the trade agreement's impact on rural Ireland: "The cumulative effect could lead to the erosion of rural communities that depend on livestock farming for employment and economic activity."

The Limousin society president concluded by encouraging everyone to engage with the decision-makers to oppose the EU-Mercosur deal in order to protect the long-term viability of Irish beef farming and rural Ireland.

This follows the Irish Simmental Cattle Society's declaration prior to Christmas, stating that it would be supporting Irish farmers by attending the protest against the Mercosur deal, which will take place in Athlone on 10 January.

Charolais society

In a statement in December 2025, Irish Charolais Cattle Society president Aiden MacHale asked all its members to make contact with their MEPs to oppose the deal.

"As president of our society, I am asking our membership to make contact with their MEPs and ask them to do the right thing by voting against the Mercosur deal.

"The Mercosur deal risks flooding the EU with cheap beef produced to lower standards, directly undermining suckler farmers that are already under severe pressure.

"Now is not the time for MEPs to sit on the fence - if they do anything other than voting against the deal, rural Ireland will never forgive or forget," he said.

The Charolais society also urged all members to attend the protest.