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Ranchers.net

EU bans Brazilian beef, farms not approvedReuters Wednesday January 30 2008

By Darren Ennis
BRUSSELS, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Brazilian beef will be banned from the EU as of Thursday following failure to agree a list of approved farms in the world's biggest exporter of the meat, the trade bloc's health chief said on Wednesday.
Brazil's exports of beef were worth some $4.2 billion in 2007.
"There is no positive list (of approved holdings) for the time being ... at this stage there will be no holdings authorised to export (beef) to the EU," EU Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou told a news conference.
"But of course this can change in the next few days. But yes, as of January 31 there will be no list," he told Reuters afterwards.
Checking each holding would be a lengthy process, he said.
The EU restrictions follow intense lobbying by European farmers, particularly Irish and British cattle ranchers, to ban Brazilian beef imports, which have grown sharply in recent years.
European producers say Brazilian beef does not meet the strict standards laid down for Europe's farmers, notably tagging and rules governing the movement of animals.
In December, the EU executive announced it was tightening restrictions on imports of beef from the Latin American powerhouse from the end of January and that only those export sources on an EU list would be authorised to export.
A European Commission source had said earlier on Wednesday that around 300 Brazilian holdings, or 3 percent of ranchers, were expected to be given permits to export beef to the 27-member bloc.
Kyprianou confirmed that had been "the original plan" but Brazil had come up with too many proposed farms for the authorised list and the EU would need more time to check them.
"We had envisaged roughly around 300 holdings being allowed to export into the EU, based on previous inspections and information from the Brazilians," he told Reuters.
"The Brazilians, however, have now come forward with a greater list which of course then means we have to take more time," he added.
STRONG DOUBTS
A Commission official said Brazil proposed a list on Tuesday of some 2,600 holdings.
"This list raises great concerns for us. We have strong doubts about this list," the official said.
Kyprianou said the EU executive had not decided what way to proceed regarding the authorisation process.
"We may decide to allow some farms on the list without sending an inspection team depending on what evidence the Brazilian's have sent us because as you know we have only recently had an inspection there," he said.
"We have also to decide whether to allow farms on a holding by holding basis or wait until we have a significant number on the list. We will know more in the next few days."
The next EU inspection mission is not expected to travel to Brazil until the end of February "at the earliest", the Commission official said.
The Irish Farmers' Association said it welcomed "the resolute action taken by Commissioner Kyprianou".
(Additional reporting by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Dale Hudson and Michael Roddy)
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