The importation of beef from outside of the EU not only “undermines the livelihoods of farmers but is also damaging our climate”, according to the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten.
Agriland.ie reported on the comments from Minister Naughten who was speaking at the EU Council meeting of European Environment Ministers this week.
The minister highlighted that EU beef production was four times more carbon efficient than Brazilian beef imports.
Dismiss Emissions
“The EU cannot allow a situation to develop where trade agreements lead to an overall increase in global emissions, by shutting down production in Europe and pushing up emissions in other parts of the world,” he said.
“There is an acceptance at EU level that we must give special treatment to certain industries with high carbon emissions, in order to keep them in a very regulated Europe, rather than a free-for-all outside our borders.
“We now need to do the same on trade where there must be a level playing field on carbon efficiency when it comes to production.”
Minister Naughten added that he will work with his French counterpart to ensure that EU trade agreements do not lead to an overall increase in global carbon emissions.
Agriland reported that more Brazilian meat processing plants have failed a recent European Union audit.
In April, up to 20 Brazilian plants were banned from exporting meat to the EU, a move which was welcomed by the IFA, who said that it ‘fully backs up’ the repeated calls from the group to move away from Mercosur negotiations.
© 2018 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Aidan O’Sullivan. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
