HUGE concerns over the human health implications of allowing large quantities of South American beef and poultry onto the shelves of Irish and European supermarkets have to be addressed before the Mercosur Trade Deal can be signed off on, a Galway Super Junior Minister told the Connacht Tribune this week.

Galway East TD and Minister with Responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, Seán Canney, said that concerns over the availability and use of antibiotics and hormones in animals across Mercosur countries, wasn’t just a farming issue.

“This has to be a level playing field. We cannot have a situation whereby beef and poultry coming in from the Mercosur countries [Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay], doesn’t meet the regulations that are adhered to by Irish and European farmers.

“The issue of antibiotic resistance in the human population is a very real one and we want to ensure that product doesn’t enter our market that doesn’t comply with the standards that we all need to meet,” said Minister Canney.

He said that while the Mercosur Trade Deal would provide many trade opportunities for European businesses and producers, the issue regarding the largely unregulated use of antibiotics and hormones on South American farms could not be overlooked or under-estimated.

Caption: Minister Seán Canney.

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