Mr Kyprianou's visit is being flagged up as a strictly diplomatic mission to discuss food safety issues. But it comes hot on the heels of an EU Food and Veterinary Office inspection that ended this week and was targeted at Brazil's foot-and-mouth disease controls.

The fact the EU commissioner was going in person to Brazil suggested there was some urgency about the issue, said NFU deputy president Meurig Raymond.

Source: fwi.co.uk