Pascal Canfin during a plenary session at the European Parliament in Brussels, April 10, 2024 (JOHN THYS)” loading=”eager” height=”512″ width=”768″ class=”yf-24rror loader”/> Centrist MEP Pascal Canfin during a plenary session at the European Parliament in Brussels, April 10, 2024 (JOHN THYS)
Centrist MEP Pascal Canfin, opposed to the free trade agreement with Mercosur, unearthed on Wednesday a recent European audit report pointing to a lack of guarantees from the Brazilian authorities on the surveillance of avian flu in poultry farms .
Published on November 9, this audit was carried out by the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety of the European Commission, from April 15 to May 3, 2024 in Brazil.
This report concludes that the system put in place by the Brazilian authorities “provides sufficient guarantees that products likely to be exported to the EU meet most of the requirements applicable to imports, except with regard to surveillance of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which may not be sufficient to detect the disease as early as possible.
This audit recommends in particular to “ensure that the HPAI surveillance program is suitable for the early detection of the disease”.
In the eyes of Pascal Canfin (Renew), this report “illustrates that the avian flu control system in Brazil is totally failing”. The MEP finds there “another reason to oppose Mercosur”.
“There would be no risk” for health since the virus does not resist cooking, but the parliamentarian denounces “unfair competition for our farmers”, because “in Europe when a case of highly pathogenic avian flu is declared, trade restrictions and slaughter of poultry are mandatory.
Another recent EU audit revealed flaws in beef controls in Brazil, unable to guarantee the absence of the hormone estradiol, banned in Europe. Until the procedures are reviewed, Brazil has suspended these exports.
A large part of the EU seems determined to sign a free trade agreement with the Latin American Mercosur countries by the end of the year, to the great dismay of France, which refuses it as is and mobilizes.
This free trade treaty between the 27 of the EU, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay has been under discussion for more than 20 years.
Eurostat estimates EU agricultural imports from these four countries at 18.4 billion euros in 2023, which represent, in value, 12.6% of imports from the Europe of 27.
Brazil alone is the second largest country of origin for EU agricultural imports, after the United Kingdom.
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Guest 2: Considering the long-standing negotiations with Mercosur, what mechanisms are in place to ensure that Brazil adheres to EU standards in terms of food safety and environmental regulations? How do you envision enforcing compliance in the future?
2 Guests:
1. Guest 1: Pascal Canfin, Centrist MEP
2. Guest 2: An EU Official responsible for Agricultural Policy
Interview Questions:
Guest 1 (Pascal Canfin): As an MEP opposed to the Mercosur deal, what are your key concerns regarding the recent European audit report on avian flu surveillance in Brazil, and how does it impact your stance on the trade agreement?
Guest 2 (EU Official): As an EU official responsible for agricultural policy, can you provide some insight into the importance of the Mercosur deal for European farmers and businesses? How do you respond to the concerns raised by Guest 1 regarding avian flu surveillance in Brazil and its potential impact on public health and fair competition within the EU?
Guest 1: The European audit report highlights a lack of guarantee from Brazilian authorities on surveillance of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Do you believe that this is a significant concern for the EU’s food safety, and if so, what action should be taken to address it?
Guest 2: The EU has been negotiating with Mercosur for over 20 years now. Why do you think it is crucial to finalize this deal at this particular moment in time? Additionally, how does the EU intend to protect its farmers and ensure fair competition, given the potential influx of agricultural products from these Latin American countries?
Guest 1: Another recent EU audit revealed flaws in beef controls in Brazil, unable to guarantee the absence of the hormone estradiol. How does this impact the EU’s overall assessment of Brazilian agricultural practices, and what specific measures are being taken to address these concerns?
Guest 2: Apart from the concerns raised by Guest 1, what other benefits does the Mercosur deal offer to the EU, such as increased market access, trade diversification, or geopolitical considerations? How do you balance these benefits with the potential risks mentioned in the article?
Guest 1: if the concerns raised by the European audit reports are not adequately addressed by Brazil, do you see any other alternatives for the EU besides signing the current agreement, or is it imperative
