Fitzmaurice calls on Irish Politicians across the board to “ come together and stand up and be counted” to reject Mercosur

Fitzmaurice calls on Irish Politicians across the board to “ come together and stand up and be counted” to reject Mercosur

Independent Ireland’s Agriculture Spokesperson, TD Michael Fitzmaurice, has said the latest revelations around antibiotic and hormone use in Brazil expose a “deeply unsafe and deeply unfair” double standard in global beef trade – and strengthen the case for Ireland to oppose the Mercosur agreement outright.

Deputy Fitzmaurice said the findings published by the Irish Farmers Journal and the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), following a detailed fact-finding visit to Brazil earlier this month, paint a stark picture of an industry operating far below EU standards on traceability, veterinary oversight, environmental protection, and public health.

“I have long warned about the problems with traceability and hormone use in Brazilian beef, and now we have an antibiotic scandal laid bare for all to see,” Deputy Fitzmaurice said. “Irish farmers adhere to the highest of standards to produce the best food in the world – and we are going to be flooded with low-quality, potentially unsafe beef that will decimate our industry. It’s not good enough. It is time for Irish politicians, at home and in Europe, to stand up and be counted and come together to say ‘no’ to Mercosur.”

The investigation found that prescription-only antibiotics – including critically important medicines such as third-generation cephalosporins – were freely available to purchase over the counter in Brazilian agricultural supply stores, with no identification, herd number, or veterinary prescription required. In many cases, store assistants offered multiple bottles for sale. Packaging carried no barcodes, and no central database exists to track their distribution.

Experts have described the findings as “contrary to everything” the EU has worked for in combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Professor Martin Cormican, consultant microbiologist and professor of bacteriology at the University of Galway, warned that such practices undermine two decades of EU progress on responsible antibiotic use.

The trip also documented widespread use of in-feed antibiotics such as monensin – banned in the EU since 2003 – and hormones including prostaglandin and oestradiol, which remain freely available in Brazil. A European Commission audit as recently as 2024 found Brazilian authorities could not guarantee that beef exported to the EU is hormone-free.

Fitzmaurice said these findings are a direct challenge to claims that Brazil now meets “equivalent standards.”

“Nothing in this report suggests Brazil has turned any corner,” he said. “We’re talking about uncontrolled antibiotic sales, no proper animal-medicine records, the feeding of growth promoters banned here for decades, ongoing traceability problems, and evidence of continued deforestation. Yet Irish farmers are expected to compete with that.”

The Mercosur agreement would allow an additional 99,000 tonnes of beef into the EU at a reduced tariff, on top of the existing 200,000 tonnes already imported. Studies indicate that the deal could cost Irish beef farmers between €44m and €55m, with some industry estimates placing the impact as high as €130m.

“People need to understand what is at stake,” Fitzmaurice said. “Irish farmers are being regulated to within an inch of their lives – yet Europe is prepared to turn a blind eye to practices in Brazil that would shut a farm down here overnight. It’s self-sabotage.”

Calling on Government ministers and Ireland’s MEPs to take a firm stance, he added: “Independent Ireland and our MEP Ciaran Mullooly have stood firmly against this deal from day one and I would ask others to join us - we cannot sit on the fence. If this deal proceeds, the consequences for rural Ireland, for public health, and for the integrity of our food system will be severe. We need to reject the Mercosur agreement and defend Irish farming before it is too late.”

Photo Credit: Irish Farmers Journal