THE SPANISH MEAT AND POULTRY SECTOR REJECTS THE EU-MERCOSUR AGREEMENT DUE TO ITS CONSEQUENCES FOR FOOD SECURITY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE SECTOR

● It poses a direct and immediate threat to the sustainability of the poultry sector, putting thousands of jobs at risk by allowing imports that do not meet strict European quality and sustainability standards.
● They represent unfair competition with tangible environmental risks, since regulatory and production cost differences favour unsustainable practices, compromising food safety and the climate objectives of the European Union.

Madrid, December 9, 2024.- AVIANZA, the Spanish Interprofessional Association of Poultry Meat, joins the widespread rejection of the European poultry meat sector, and of agriculture and livestock in general, against the trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur, due to the serious implications that this has for food safety, compliance with production standards, environmental sustainability and the future of the European agricultural and livestock sector.

The agreement, which allows for increased imports of poultry meat and other agricultural products from Mercosur countries (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay), represents a significant risk to the quality and sustainability standards that distinguish European production. According to the latest reports from the EU Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), Brazil faces serious difficulties in ensuring compliance with European health standards, raising concerns about the safety of imports.

A devastating impact on local production

The agreement provides for an additional import quota of 180,000 tonnes of poultry meat from Mercosur (in addition to the 300,000 already authorised), which is equivalent to the combined production of countries such as Finland, Sweden and Denmark. These imports not only affect local producers, but also generate unfair competition by allowing the entry of products that do not comply with the strict animal welfare, food safety and environmental sustainability regulations in force in the EU.

Currently, 25% of chicken breast meat consumed in the EU comes from third countries such as Brazil, Thailand and Ukraine, which do not operate under the same standards. This situation will worsen with the entry into force of the agreement, weakening local production and putting thousands of jobs at risk in the Spanish poultry sector.

Spanish poultry producers face significantly higher production costs due to compliance with strict animal welfare, food safety and sustainability regulations. It is estimated that these standards can account for between 6%-8% of the selling price of poultry meat in Spain (and that, without the approval of new animal welfare regulations and non-deforested origin of soybeans). In contrast, Brazilian producers operate under less demanding regulations, which allows them to offer lower prices and creates unfair competition that threatens the viability of the Spanish poultry sector.

Risks to environmental sustainability and biodiversity

The agreement contradicts Europe's commitments to climate action and biodiversity protection. Mercosur countries, particularly Brazil, have been repeatedly singled out for unsustainable practices such as massive deforestation and the use of substances banned in the EU, such as atrazine in agricultural crops, as well as the use of antibiotics or hormones that cause cancer. These regulatory differences not only compromise global efforts to combat climate change, but also undermine the sustainability goals set out in the European Green Deal.

Lack of reciprocity and transparency for consumers

Despite promises of origin labelling, current regulations do not require identification of the origin of meat used in processed products, such as ready meals or food in catering chains. This leaves European consumers exposed to products that do not meet the standards they expect, without the possibility of making informed choices.

AVIANZA insists on the need to implement mandatory labelling for all meat and poultry products, as well as to ensure reciprocity in production standards between the EU and exporting countries.

A call to action

From AVIANZA, and in line with the position of other European associations such as AVEC, CEPM and COPA-COGECA, we urge the political leaders of the European Union to reject the agreement in its current form. Allowing the entry of agricultural products that do not meet European standards would be a strategic error that would undermine food safety, consumer welfare and the sustainability of our agricultural sector.

The future of European agriculture and livestock farming depends on a trade policy that protects our producers, promotes sustainability and defends European values.