MEPs to put EU Commissioner on spot over Brazilian beef imports

9.30.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 1st Oct 2009

George Lyon, Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland, has secured a special session of the European Parliament to question the Commission over a report that concludes Brazilian beef standards have improved, opening the way for imports to resume to EU member states. This is despite the details of the report showing that inspectors still found huge on going problems on farms and with the inspection process.

Commenting, Mr Lyon said:

"The Commissioner must come to the European Parliament and explain why this report comes to the conclusion that Brazilian beef standards are improving when it is clear from examining the detail of their own report that huge problems remain.

"This debate in Parliament will give MEPs the opportunity to challenge the Commissions view that standards are improving when it is clear this is far from the case.

"We must be on our guard and ready to fight against any attempt to let Brazilian beef back into Europe before it comes up to EU standards.

"Until the Commissioner gives some straight answers and proves that Brazilian authorities have stopped flouting EU import rules, I will continue to oppose any import of Brazilian beef to Scotland or anywhere else in the EU."