EU farming body Copa-Cogeca held what it described as a “major event” in Brussels to underline the potentially “catastrophic impact” a trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur could have on Europe’s beef industry.
“The sector is also confronted with increased competition from imports, especially when it comes to high-value cuts,” said Copa-Cogeca chairman Jean-Pierre Fleury.
“A new EU trade impact study confirms the catastrophic impact that upcoming trade deals could have on the EU beef sector, unless tariff-rate quotas on imports are imposed, especially the one being negotiated with the EU Latin American Trade bloc Mercosur.
“We believe a potential deal with Mercosur could hit the EU beef sector badly.”
Food safety concerns
Fleury stressed that some countries in the Mercosur trade bloc did not have the same traceability standards and also used antibiotic growth promoters – substances banned in EU meat production. “These countries do not respect the same quality standards as those in the EU and there are still concerns about safety aspects of meat production in these countries,” added Fleury.
He also called for a deeper analysis of differences between the Eurozone and South American carcase cuts to develop “the right EU meat strategy”.
The EU is currently in negotiations over a comprehensive trade agreement with Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela) and ten rounds of talks have taken place, with the last one in October 2016.
A €30.5bn industry
Copa-Cogeca also used the event in Parliament to highlight the importance of the beef sector to EU agriculture. The body stressed beef production was carried out by 2.5m family firms and generated €30.5bn every year.
“The sector has many advantages in terms of providing consumers with a balanced diet and essential nutrients like vitamin B12 and iron, at the same time as ensuring growth and jobs in EU rural areas where often no alternative source of employment exists, contributing also to green growth. Sixty million hectares of grassland, which act as a carbon sink, exist due to this economic activity.”
Copa-Cogeca’s drive to promote beef comes as part of its Livestock Counts campaign – a promotion push to combat anti-meat campaigns by highlighting the role of the meat industry in job creation and economic growth.