Farmers' union: Mercosur trade agreement is a threat to European agriculture
Farmers' union Boerenbond has taken issue with the EU's proposed trade agreement with the Mercosur trade bloc. The union, which represents farmers in Belgium's Flemish and German-speaking communities, warned that the agreement poses a threat to European agriculture.
Boerenbond deems the current draft of the agreement unacceptable, arguing that the agricultural practices in the Mercosur countries - Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay - do not align with European standards.
According to the organisation, critical areas such as traceability, food safety, biodiversity, animal welfare and crop protection operate at different levels in Mercosur, with insufficient checks and guarantees.
“The agreement opens the door to production standards that do not correspond to European standards and expectations,” the union said, adding that a compensation fund would be of little benefit to the sector.
"We respect the social choices that the EU makes regarding food and agriculture," said president Lode Ceyssens. "It is not only up to our farmers to respect them but also to our trading partners. These production standards cannot be bought off."
A consequence of the agreement would be the easier import of beef from Mercosur nations into Europe, a key concern for European farmers who fear unfair competition. The agreement may be finalised at the G20 summit in Brazil on 18 and 19 November.
© PHOTO HANS LUCAS AFP
Related news
