The Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries considered that it is “a new step” in European protectionism against regional agriculture.
He Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, Fernando Mattos, questioned the “new trade restriction step” of the European Union (EU), by questioning the environmental demands of the regional bloc with respect to the agricultural sector.
“We cannot accept that Europeans are the champions of the defense of the environment,” criticized Mattos, at a time when regulations against deforestation of that continent keep the Mercosur-EU Agreement.
The leader expressed himself like this during the Southern Agricultural Council (CAS), along with its peers Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Paraguay, considering that the European demands “are not based on science and there is great uncertainty regarding the mechanics of their application that could be detrimental.”
“Politically we reject this regulation, which is a new step of trade restriction based on an environmental aspect,” said the head of the MGAP and added: “In any case, the requirement exists and we have to be prepared, although that does not mean that we do not take all possible actions to postpone the entry into force of Regulation 1,115.”
Fernando Mattos, ministers CAS.jpg
What does the new European Union law imply?
The community law against deforestation that began to apply to imports in the EU affects certain raw materials and derived products such as palm oil, beef, the soy, coffee, rubber, wood or chocolate.
The rule contemplates a period of 18 months of margin so that operators can prepare, meaning that it will end in January of next year.
If there are no changes, companies that import these materials and derived products into the EU will have to trace their origin and issue a statement of due dilegence that guarantees that they did not cause deforestation in their places of origin compared to 2020.
Finally, the CAS ministers discussed the European policy of maximum limits of waste and reduction of pesticides. In this regard, they stressed that, although it is intended to be presented as an environmental issue, it is a food safety issue. For this reason, they agreed to work together and undertake coordinated action in the different areas in which this issue is discussed.
Source: Ambito
