Animal Policy International expresses serious concerns about the animal welfare implications of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement approved on December 6 by the European Commission, after 25 years of stalled negotiations.
The trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay), if ratified, would significantly increase imports of poultry meat and beef from Mercosur countries, where intensive farming practices often fall far below EU animal welfare standards.
The deal would cut South American tariffs on European cars, clothes, food, and medicines. In exchange, the EU will open its markets to South American agricultural products, including beef, chicken meat, honey, and sugar. Under the deal, the EU will allow imports of 99,000 tonnes of beef at reduced duties of 7.5%, and 180 000 tonnes of poultry duty-free, both phased in over five years.
"This trade deal risks fuelling cruel intensive practices in Mercosur countries, including feedlots for cattle and high-density farming for chickens," says Mandy Carter, Co-Executive Director of Animal Policy International. "By further opening EU markets to products from systems with lower animal welfare standards, we’re effectively fuelling animal suffering overseas."
Animal Policy International highlights that the agreement lacks adequate safeguards to protect animal welfare and urges EU Member States and the European Parliament to reject the deal in its current form, respecting the wishes of EU citizens who believe that that when it comes to imports from non-European Union countries, the current situation should change, either by requiring imports to meet EU standards, or a labelling system.
The organisation calls for all imported animal products to comply with EU animal welfare standards, regardless of free trade agreements, to prevent undermining the progress made in improving farmed animal conditions within Europe.
Animal Policy International warns that increased market access could accelerate the expansion of intensive farming systems in Mercosur countries, leading to more low-welfare imports and more animals being raised in conditions that would be illegal within the EU.
References
EU-Mercosur agreement. (2024) European Commission. https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/eu-trade-relationships-country-and-region/countries-and-regions/mercosur/eu-mercosur-agreement_en
Factsheet EU-Mercosur on Agriculture. (2024) European Commission. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/fs_24_6266
Sustainability Impact Assessment in Support of the Association Agreement Negotiations between the European Union and Mercosur - Executive Summary. (2020) LSE. https://circabc.europa.eu/ui/group/09242a36-a438-40fd-a7af-fe32e36cbd0e/library/00068eea-dce1-4806-90ba-25bf7449dcda/details
Briefing: Mercosur. Animal Protection in EU Trade Negotiations. (2020) https://www.eurogroupforanimals.org/files/eurogroupforanimals/2021-12/2020_eurogroup_for_animals_mercosur_en.pdf