Relevant Matter
Public policy or programme
Public Policy Area
EU Affairs
Period
1 Sep, 2025 to 31 Dec, 2025
Specific Details
Mercosur - Use of Antibiotics & Hormones in Beef Production
Intended results
To highlight that a key component of the proposed Mercosur trade deal is equivalence of standards of production for beef to be eligible for import to the EU from the Mercosur countries. According to the proposed EU-Mercosur partnership agreement it
• Upholds, for imports into the EU, the EU's strict standards on food safety, and animal and plant health (SPS1 standards)
• Aims to enhance the protection of human, animal, and plant life and health in the context of agriculture and fishery trade between the EU and Mercosur.
The European Commission claim the main achievements of the agreement will;
• protect labour rights;
• protect the environment, including fighting climate change and deforestation;
• promote corporate social responsibility;
• co-operate on animal welfare standards, biotechnology, food safety and the fight against antimicrobial resistance.
The findings of IFA expose the inability of Brazilian beef producers and authorities to meet the standards that apply in the EU; standards developed as a result of societal demands on how food should be produced, animals farmed and key medicines for both human and animal health are used, namely antibiotics in the EU.
Brazilian control systems are far removed from the standards imposed on European farmers. Accordingly, it is impossible to credibly certify beef from this country.
To highlight that, currently, there is an active recall of Brazilian beef that was allowed into the EU, that was found to contain hormones.
To emphasise that the Commission has said that the full report on Brazilian beef won't be published until early in 2026 which is after the Mercosur vote in the EU Council. This is totally unacceptable.
To point out that the discovery of hormones in beef exported to the EU from Brazil further highlights the lack of controls in slaughterhouses in Brazil, which has allowed this beef to enter the EU and be sold to European citizens.
To stress that public health cannot be compromised or selectively applied to facilitate trade deals. If antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the major global health threat that the EU and WHO say it is, then the standards applied to EU farmers must also inform the conditions placed on imports,
To point out that there is a complete lack of traceability in Brazil throughout the supply chain, from farms, through livestock markets and onto slaughter plants. The complete lack of oversight of those antibiotics categorised HPCIA (Highest Priority Critically Important Antibiotics), use of products, and lack of oversight of the supply chain is seriously at odds with the position adopted by the EU.
To call for verifiable controls on veterinary antibiotics, including effective prescription-only status and oversight of highest-priority critically important antimicrobials, as a precondition for beef export certification to the EU.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Francie Gorman IFA President, Damian McDonald IFA Director General, Tomas Bourke IFA Senior Policy Executive,
Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?)
No
Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign?
No
Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client?
No
Lobbying activity
The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.
Informal communication (2-5)
Designated public officials lobbied
The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them.
As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.
Aindrias Moynihan
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Danny Healy-Rae
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Eileen Lynch
Senator (Seanad)
Joanne Collins
Senator (Seanad)
Joe Cooney
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Martin Kenny
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Michael Fitzmaurice
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Natasha Newsome Drennan
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Paraic Brady
Senator (Seanad)
Paul Daly
Senator (Seanad)
Paul Lawless
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Peter 'Chap' Cleere
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Victor Boyhan
Senator (Seanad)
William Aird
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)