MEP Ciaran Mullooly said he is seeking assurances, both in Ireland and at EU level, that "robust monitoring" of imported meat takes place.

Brazil faces a potential ban on its meat exports to the EU from September 3, unless it proves compliance with EU antimicrobial resistance rules.

Mullooly spoke as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in the UK confirmed this week that "Great Britain (GB) is undertaking its own assessment of Brazil's use of antimicrobials assurance arrangements".

Imports from Brazil may continue while this assessment is completed, Defra said.

"The UK has robust import controls in place to protect animal and public health," the department said.

"GB will continue to engage with industry partners and the Brazilian authorities."

Defra added that under the current arrangements governing the movement of goods into Northern Ireland, "goods moving from GB to Northern Ireland must meet EU import rules, including coming from countries approved by the EU as compliant with the antimicrobial use standards".

Assurances

Mullooly said he will be seeking assurances from the relevant food safety and customs authorities, both in Ireland and at EU level, that "robust monitoring, traceability and enforcement measures are in place" to prevent any products that do not meet EU import requirements from entering the EU market.

He added: "Irish consumers and farmers are entitled to know that beef entering the EU complies fully with EU standards.

The Midlands-North-West MEP said he will also be calling on the competent food safety authorities to "increase targeted monitoring and auditing" of imported beef products.

FSAI

The European Commission has enacted legislation specifying that current EU entry requirements will not provide for entry of Brazilian beef and other meats unless they are certified before September 3, 2026.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has said this is "based on concerns over the continued use of antimicrobials in production of food animals outside of usage allowed in EU law, rather than an immediate food safety issue".

"This measure will further strengthen consumer protection in the EU and will be implemented at border control posts," the FSAI said.

"It is imperative that the food safety standards that are in place for food produced in Ireland and within the EU are also required for any food imported from third countries."

The authority outlined the requirements that importation of beef from third countries other than Brazil, such as the UK, into the EU will be subject to meeting:

Produced to EU standards;
Processed in EU-approved premises;
Imported into the EU through stringent controls at designated border control posts, and thereafter;
Further processed and marketed in compliance with EU food legislation.

The FSAI said that imported and EU-origin beef is subject to food labelling legislation including being labelled with its country of origin.

The authority said: "Compliance with that legislation ensures consumers can choose whether to buy it.

"In Ireland, there is further labelling legislation requiring beef to be labelled with its country of origin in food service businesses such as restaurants and hotels."

The FSAI outlined that it will "continue to ensure that official controls on the importation of beef from third countries and the placing of beef on the market in Ireland complies with the required standards and labelling requirements".

It said it will "enforce those requirements using the powers available to the FSAI under various statutory instruments". 

The authority added: "As beef entering Ireland from the UK is already subject to intensive checks at Irish border control posts, the FSAI does not consider an increase in such checks is required at the moment".