Plaid Cymru MEP Jill Evans has joined colleagues from Ireland, England and Scotland in calling for an immediate ban on imports of Brazilian beef to the European Union. The Plaid Cymru MEP is part of a cross party campaign in the European Parliament which is demanding the European Commission halt imports on food safety grounds.

The MEPs are concerned that Brazilian beef farming is not subject to the same strict high standards applied to farmers within the European Union. Ms Evans has the support of Welsh farmers representatives.

The Plaid MEP is co-sponsoring a written declaration in the European Parliament which was launched in Strasbourg today.

Speaking at the launch Jill Evans said:

"I've spent much of the summer visiting agricultural shows in Wales and everywhere the message from farmers has been the same. They want to know why the European Commission is not applying the same strict high standards to Brazilian farmers as it is to farmers within the EU.

"There are very serious concerns about the quality of Brazilian beef being imported to Europe. We've heard evidence of a failure to tag or trace animals and to administer vaccines or prevent improper movement of cattle. Yet the European Commission is happy to allow Brazil beef imports to continue.

"Welsh farmers, like farmers all over the EU are victims of European Commission double standards in this matter. The US, South Korea, Australia and Japan currently ban all beef products. It's high time for the European Union to follow suit - the potential risk to animal and human health of not acting is just too high."

Note

A Written Declaration calling for a ban on Brazilian Beef imports to the EU led by Alyn Smith MEP with Mairead McGuinness, Neil Parish, James Nicholson and Jill Evans has been launched today - Tuesday - at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.