Agricultural organizations representing poultry and red meat producers in the E.U. have raised strenuous objections to the proposed Mercosur Trade Agreement that will open the market to imports from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.  Although prompted by concern over competition, opponents of the trade agreement have raised valid issues.  The reliability of meat inspection in Brazil is questioned based on the “Carne Fraca” scandal that demonstrated corruption and deviation from acceptable standards. Procedures appear inferior to those in effect in the E.U.  The meat inspection problems that occurred in 2017 have apparently been corrected by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Food. 

A recent audit conducted by Germany questioned the use of banned antibiotics including chloramphenicol and oxytetracycline, pesticides and hormones including estradiol in production.  Residues of banned substances have been detected in poultry and meat from the Mercosur nations.

Adoption of the E.U.-Mercosur Agreement would increase exports of poultry and meat products to the group of 27 nations in excess of 41,000 metric tons of beef and 59,000 tons of poultry meat imported in 2023 from E.U.-approved abattoirs and poultry processing plants.

It would appear that E.U. agricultural organizations are advancing food safety considerations as a means to block competition from nations and principally Brazil, that have lower production costs despite the additional expense of transport.