Mercusor and Nitrates ‘horsetrade’ rumour is ‘nonsense’ - insists IFA livestock leader from Laois

Farmers should lobby their new Laois TDs and other public representatives to ensure that the risks posed by the Mercusor deal are put to the top of the agenda, according to Borris-in-Ossory man and the IFA's National Livestock Committee Chairman Declan Hanrahan.

The IFA man also insists that a scenario must not be allowed to emerge where acceptance of Mercusor would be used to retain Ireland's nitrates derogation or visa versa.

Mr Hanrahan said the deal had been in the works for many years ago and he recalled former IFA president John Bryan going to Brazil at the time to expose shortcomings with the country's beef due to a lack of traceability and quality standards.

“That is over 20 years ago and they are still not in place,” he said.

He claimed there is no animal tagging, or traceability in South America where beef farming operates on a massive scale.
He is aware of a 20,000-acre farm in Argentina. He asked: “How do you police that?"

Mr Hanrahan the absence of such standards in South America is a key issue. He also said the arrival of huge quantities of beef to higher price EU markets will also impact livelihoods.

He said all livestock farmers would be hit by Mercusor because it is an integrated sector.

The risk of horse-trading within Europe involving Governments and the adoption of the Mercusor deal is something that Mr Hanrahan and the IFA is on the alert for.

Mr Hanrahan insists that the Mercusor deal and the Nitrates Directive Derogation are two completely separate issues. He said the Derogation relates to the environment while the Mercusor Deal falls into the trade area.

“I have heard said it that Ireland will get the derogation but would roll over when it comes to Mercusor but they are two separate deals that concern two totally separate issues,” he said.

He described any claims that the IFA might accept a 'horsetrade' as 'nonsense'. He is aware that some will jump to claim that the dairy sector will win out over beef.

“That is not on the table and was never on the table,” he said.

He said the Mercursor deal also 'laughs in the face' of commitments to farmers made by the President of the EU Commission Urusal Von der Leyen when she was re-elected. He said her deal also 'laughs in the face of EU Citizens.'

He said the IFA's opposition to Mercusor was made clear to political parties during the election campaign but he called on all local farmers to act also by lobbying their new Laois TDs about the deal.

He said doing so would mean that the message would be communicated to the next Minister for Agriculture.

Mr Hanrahan wants the first statement from the next Minister to be clear on Mercusor.

“The first words we want to hear (from the next Minister) is that we are rejecting not reviewing the deal,” he said.

Meanwhile, Concerns over the new Mercosur trade deal topped the agenda of the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment Peter Burke when he met recently with EU Trade Commissioner, according to his Department.

Minister Burke met with Maroš Šefčovič on Friday, December 13 to discuss priority trade issues for Ireland.

“While no final decision on adoption is imminent, I believe that all stakeholders, and the farming community in particular, need to be fully informed of all aspects of the proposed future trade arrangements with the Mercosur bloc.

“Throughout the negotiations on this agreement, the Commission has been made aware of Ireland’s key requirements in relation to the trade and sustainability commitments in the agreement. Furthermore, we continue to make the Commission aware of our model of farming here, including the practices that farmers have implemented over the last number of decades and the sustainability measures which are now the bedrock of Irish farming.

"Farmers have invested significant resources into sustainability, and we must expect the same high standards for all products entering the market to ensure a level playing field, which is a concept that is at the very heart of the EU.

“Following my discussions with Commissioner Sefcovic, we have agreed that the Commission will send a special mission to Ireland to meet and engage directly with representatives of the farming organisations.

“My Department will facilitate a series of discussions early in 2025. I am confident that this will help ensure an informed understanding for all sides of the consequences of the new Mercosur agreement text,” he said.

Finalised on 6 December in Uruguay, the deal establishes one of the world's largest free-trade zones, eliminating 91% of tariffs on EU exports to Mercosur nations – Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay – while significantly reducing duties on key imports, including beef, poultry, sugar, ethanol, and soybeans.

EU exports to Mercosur were €56 billion in goods in 2023 and €28 billion in services in 2022.