Speaking in Brussels, Copa and Cogeca Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen said “In view of recent findings, it is not acceptable that new cases of fraud are emerging after the export scandal last year where export certificates were falsified and veterinary requirements not complied with. In this instance, cases of fraud were detected in the laboratories. We urge the European Commission to take decisive action. All options should be put on the table, including the introduction of safeguard measures for sanitary reasons. We import substantial amounts of beef from Brazil and action needs to be taken.”
“The EU meat sector has invested heavily in animal traceability systems and sanitary measures; The conclusions of the final reports of the Commission’s audits and the veterinarian mission by European Parliament should also be taken into account”, added Copa and Cogeca Beef Working Party Chairman Jean-Pierre Fleury.
Copa and Cogeca urge the EU to also ensure that these shortcomings are taken into account in the trade liberalizing talks with the Latin American trade bloc Mercosur. Copa and Cogeca cannot allow double standards in food safety for meat to be applied vis a vis imports on the EU single market. We need fair and balanced trade agreements which respect our standards, Pesonen concluded.