EU Ban on Brazilian Poultry is a Recognition of Double Standards

IFA Poultry Chair Brendan Soden said the ban on poultry from Brazil, which will take effect on Thursday, is an important recognition of the very high standards that Irish and European poultry growers adhere to compared to what happens in Brazil. 

“The significance of this decision is the move by the EU Commission to act on the lack of controls on antibiotics in Brazil, as highlighted by the IFA and the Farmers Journal in our investigation in Brazil last November,” he said.

“This was followed by a campaign by the IFA office in Brussels to highlight the double standards of the EU importing Brazilian product which is not produced to the same standards farmers have to adhere to in Ireland,” he said.

“The poultry sector in the EU has worked very hard to align with the Commission strategy on AMR, which provides consumers with the guarantee that the strictest standards apply. Brazil could not show this so the ban will come into effect later this week,” he said.

Brendan Soden said the gap in standards between Europe and Brazil is night and day.

“Anybody involved in poultry production in Ireland and indeed across the EU undertakes a large investment and complies with rigorous standards to provide assurances to consumers about what they are buying. The absence of regulations in Brazil could not be further from that.”

IFA will be insisting that the EU Commission continues to carry out audits in Brazil and there is no relaxation of the ban.

“Poultry growers here cannot be expected to apply the most stringent standards and compete with Brazilian imports at the same time. The IFA Poultry Committee will continue to monitor this issue on behalf of growers,” he said.