The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has raised serious concerns following confirmation that EU governments have approved the Mercosur trade agreement with South American countries Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.
The decision to approve the Mercosur deal heightens concerns about whether European farmers will be adequately protected from lower-cost imports produced to standards that would not be permitted here.
Negotiated over more than two decades, the agreement is expected to significantly increase agricultural imports into the EU, including beef, under preferential tariff arrangements. The UFU warns that without strong and enforceable safeguards, local producers could face unfair competition, increased market pressure and the public will have reduced confidence in the integrity of the food supply chain and concerns over possible health implications of eating imported meats that have been regulated differently.
Differences in regulatory oversight, animal welfare requirements, traceability and the use of production practices banned in the EU remain a central concern for farmers. The UFU has consistently stressed that European producers should not be expected to compete with products produced under conditions that fall short of the standards they are legally required to meet.
UFU deputy president Glenn Cuddy said, “The approval of this deal raises fundamental questions about fairness in international trade. Farmers are already operating under tight margins and stringent regulations. Opening the door to increased imports produced to lower standards risks undermining confidence, competitiveness and the long-term viability of family farms.”
Concerns surrounding the Mercosur agreement have been echoed by farming organisations across Europe, with many highlighting the potential for market distortion, downward pressure on prices and negative impacts on rural economies if appropriate protections are not fully enforced.
The UFU is calling on policymakers in Belfast, Dublin and Brussels to ensure that:
- All Mercosur imports are subject to rigorous and enforceable checks equivalent to EU standards
- Safeguard mechanisms are fully operational and activated swiftly if market disruption occurs
- Ongoing engagement with farming representatives is maintained to assess the real-world impact of the agreement
“Trade agreements must deliver balance,” Mr Cuddy added. “Farmers need assurances that standards will be upheld, safeguards will be enforced and that they will not be left carrying the burden of decisions taken far beyond the farm gate. Farmers here are operating to some of the highest standards in the world, and it is fundamentally unfair to expect them to compete with imports produced under very different systems. The government and industry must now continue to educate Northern Irish consumers on the importance of buying NI meats, the importance of checking labels and ensuring that supermarkets remain committed to stocking local meat that is produced to the highest of regulatory standards.”
