MEP Ciaran Mullooly has challenged Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon on country-of-origin labelling and food-safety concerns surrounding Brazilian beef.

The Midlands-North-West MEP was addressing Heydon in Brussels at the EU Committee of Agriculture and Rural Development today (Tuesday, July 14)

Mullooly also called on the agriculture minister to protect active farmers from age-based restrictions on Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments and to commit the government to providing the maximum possible national support under the next CAP.

Heydon was presenting Ireland's priorities in terms of agriculture and rural development as host of the EU Council presidency for a six-month period to the end of this year.

During his contribution to the discussion, Mullooly pressed the minister on country-of-origin labelling and food-safety concerns surrounding Brazilian beef.

The Independent Ireland politician also once again pointed out the ongoing opposition from Irish farmers to the EU-Mercosur trade agreement.

“You’ve seen the farmers on the streets of Ireland since we had 20,000 out protesting against Mercosur on the 10th of January," the MEP said.

Food labelling and CAP

Mullooly said he would work constructively with the agriculture minister on negotiations concerning organic production and labelling.

However, he argued that clear country-of-origin labelling should apply to all food products and not only organic food: “We’ve looked for agreement, particularly in the area of labelling, to ensure we have unambiguous, large and legible labelling on country of origin.

"Would you agree with me that that is necessary for all food, not just organics?”

Turning to the future of the CAP, Mullooly sought an assurance that genuinely active farmers would not lose support solely because they had reached pension age.

“On CAP, can I ask you, do you accept or reject proposals that would make active farmers ineligible for CAP payments simply because they have reached the State Pension age?”

He also challenged the Irish government to increase Ireland’s national contribution to the next CAP and provide the highest possible support for farmers.

“Will your government use that flexibility you have in the next CAP to increase Ireland’s national Exchequer contribution above the current minimum and choose the maximum support level for Irish farmers, particularly in the context of generational renewal?" Mullooly asked Heydon.

The Independent Ireland MEP also queried why the EU was pursuing the trade deal with Mercosur countries.

“We now know that despite the efforts to implement the Mercosur deal provisionally, Brazilian beef is not safe. It’s not on the safe list.”

Highlighting the approaching deadline for Brazil to demonstrate compliance with EU requirements, Mullooly asked: “On the 3rd of September, there’s another deadline.

"Would you agree with Patrick Wall, the former chairman of the European Food Safety Authority, that it’s not possible scientifically or practically for the Brazilian industry to meet that deadline now?”

In response, Minister Heydon said Mercosur had been raised by several MEPs and member states and that the agreement was now subject to a legal process.

He said trade remained a standing item on the EU Council agenda and stressed that imported products must meet the same high standards required of European producers.

“Our standards are really, really high here in Europe, for our producers and beyond, so therefore we expect any product that comes into Europe to meet the same standards. Our consumers would expect no less," Minister Heydon said.

While Mullooly welcomed the minister's comment on equivalent standards, he said the government must now provide direct answers on CAP eligibility, national funding and food labelling.

“Irish farmers cannot be expected to meet the highest standards in the world while products produced under different conditions are granted access to the same market,” Mullooly said.