Mayo TD urges government to stand up for farmers and block Mercosur deal

The EU-Mercosur trade deal, in its current form, is unacceptable for Ireland. It threatens the very foundation of our rural economy and undermines decades of progress on food safety, animal welfare, and environmental protection, says Mayo Deputy Paul Lawless.

He has urged the government to stand up for Irish farmers and block the Mercosur agreement.

In a statement, Deputy Lawless said: “This agreement would allow 99,000 tonnes of beef and 180,000 tonnes of poultry from Mercosur countries into the EU. These imports come from production systems that do not meet the high standards Irish farmers uphold - standards on traceability, animal welfare, and sustainability that are among the strictest in the world.

“Irish farmers are being asked to meet ever-increasing environmental obligations, while the EU turns a blind eye to deforestation, weaker animal health rules, and growth hormones in Mercosur states. Hormones that are banned in the EU. That is hypocrisy, and it places Irish agriculture at a severe competitive disadvantage.

“The deal is also at odds with EU and Irish climate legislation and risks accelerating deforestation in the Amazon. It undermines consumer trust and jeopardises rural communities already under pressure.

“Ireland must stand firm. We cannot sacrifice Irish farmers, rural jobs, food standards and environmental concerns for the sale of German cars in South America. The government should work with like-minded EU states to form a blocking minority and oppose this deal.”

He continued: “Fair trade must mean equal standards. Anything less is a betrayal of Irish farmers, rural Ireland, and our climate commitments.

“The Irish tillage sector knows all too well about the uneven playing field. Native Irish grain is competing against genetically modified imports. GM crops are banned in Ireland, yet imports are allowed. This is another example of double standards that undermine Irish producers.

“Through my role on the Agriculture Committee, I have met with Polish Members of Parliament to gain European support. I will continue to build alliances across Europe. I urge the government to work with their counterparts across the EU to build alliances to form a voting block strong enough to prevent this deal.”