Brazil to Consider Action Against the EU Over Beef Embargo
IRELAND - Brazil will consider taking action against the EU at WTO level if the embargo on beef imports is not lifted, the South American state has warned.
13 February 2008
1 minute read
Declan O'Brien, Independent.i.e reports, that the Brazilian mission to the WTO in Geneva made a formal complaint to the trade body last week, where they once again described the European decision as "unjustifiable".
"Brazil reserves the right to defend our interests in the SPS Committee and in other bodies of the World Trade Organisation," insisted the Brazilian representative. In a strongly worded statement, the Brazilian mission alleged that the EU had asked for an "unrealistic shortlist of farms" which would be allowed to continue exporting beef to Europe.
The Brazilians claimed that the decision to exclude their beef from the European market was "arbitrary and disproportionate" and was motivated by the commercial interests of local producers. They also questioned again the requirement for a traceability regime which was designed to counter BSE, a disease which had not affected the Brazilian herd.
Industry commentators maintain that the position taken by the Brazilian delegation in Geneva may be influenced by the upcoming visit of officials from the EU Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) later this month. It seems increasingly likely that a decision on whether to maintain or lift the current embargo will be based to a large degree on the findings of FVO team
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