Annual losses for Irish cattle estimated at 130 million euros due to EU-Mercosur agreement

The proposed EU-Mercosur trade agreement, according to Dale Crammond, director of Meat Industry Ireland, is expected to reduce the EU beef market production values by approximately €1.3 billion annually. The Irish beef sector will be significantly impacted, facing a loss of between €75-95 per head, due to its heavy dependence on exports to other EU markets. The reduction in production is attributed to the perceived differences in standards between the EU and Mercosur regions.

Dale Crammond, director of Meat Industry Ireland (MII), said the effects would be felt throughout the supply chain “and add to the well-publicised differences in production, sustainability and traceability standards between the EU and the Mercosur region”. “Once the proposed agreement is fully implemented, the annual reduction in EU beef market production values will be approximately €1.3 billion, with a disproportionate impact of some €100-130 million on the Irish ...