The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) reported that beef from Uruguay and Argentina has reached Poland. However, the meat was found to exceed the permitted level of progesterone (a growth hormone). The Veterinary Inspection has already responded to the matter. “This is exactly what the agreement with Mercosur countries means. The European Commission is pushing for this agreement to be applied as much as possible on a provisional basis – before it enters into force,” comments Anna Bryłka, an MEP of Confederation.
As announced at the end of February by Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission will begin the provisional application of the EU–Mercosur trade agreement. This became possible after at least one country ratified the deal. At that time, it was also approved by the parliament of Uruguay, and subsequently by the parliament of Argentina. Parliament of Uruguay and Argentine National Congress both gave their approval.
The agreement is being implemented despite protests by farmers across the EU. Opponents of the deal have pointed, among other things, to the risks associated with food from South America that does not meet EU standards.
First Effects of the Mercosur Agreement
The first warning about problems with meat from Mercosur countries appeared last Friday. It concerned beef intended for the Polish and German markets. The beef originating from Uruguay and Argentina was imported via the Netherlands. After testing, it turned out that the meat contained progesterone, i.e. a growth hormone. The warning did not specify how much the permissible limits were exceeded. The matter has recently been addressed by the General Veterinary Inspectorate.
In an official statement, it reads: “As a result of official actions by the Veterinary Inspection, progesterone was detected in samples of beef originating from Uruguay and Argentina, taken as part of a suspicion related to a previous notification concerning irregularities found in meat originating from Brazil.”
“It should be emphasized that, within the scope of inspections, district veterinary officers in food sector establishments pay particular attention to the use by facilities of raw materials originating from third countries where substances with hormonal effects are used under different rules than in the EU. In such cases, establishments are required to take this hazard into account in their hazard analysis proportionate to the level of risk. At the same time, according to an opinion obtained from the European Reference Laboratory and scientific articles, actual concentrations of progesterone in meat are difficult to interpret in the context of illegal use of this substance. It should also be remembered that progesterone is endogenously produced in the body. At the same time, there is a lack of information regarding the range of normal endogenous progesterone levels in meat for all species of slaughter animals. Progesterone shows significant variability between animals, depending, among other factors, on age, sex, and physiological condition,” the statement noted.
Bryłka: We Do Not Accept This Trade
The issue was commented on social media by Anna Bryłka, an MEP of Confederation. In her published statement, the politician said: “this is exactly the quality of food products in South America. This is exactly what the agreement with Mercosur countries means. The European Commission is pushing for this agreement to be applied as much as possible on a provisional basis – before it enters into force.”
“We did not agree and we do not agree to a trade agreement with Mercosur countries,” she added.