Sligo County Council today passed a motion calling on Agriculture Minister Michael Creed to ask for an emergency meeting of EU ministers to implement an immediate ban on Brazilian beef and other foodimports into Europe.
It emerged at the weekend that, after a two-year investigation, Brazilian police found that major meat producers bribed health inspectors to certify tainted food as fit for consumption.
At least 30 people have so far been arrested, with police raiding more than a dozen processing plants and issuing 27 arrest warrants.
The mayor of Sligo, Independent Councillor Marie Casserly, proposed the motion at today’s council meeting.
It was seconded by Independent Councillor Michael Clarke who says it’s vital Ireland moves to protect its beef products and to, as he says, ‘stop this rubbish coming in.’
Fianna Fail Councillor Joe Queenan says Ireland has the best beef in the world but what is coming in from Brazil is ‘second-class stuff without a shadow of a doubt.’
Sinn Fein Councillor Chris MacManus says issues like this serves as a warning about international trade agreements.
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy has called for the ongoing trade talks between the EU and the Mercosur Latin American countries to be suspended following the recent revelations of fraud and corruption in the Brazilian beef and poultry trade.
Mr Carthy says the Brazilian scandal highlights the dangers of importing cheaper poultry and beef products from non EU countries.
