Madam, - In typical Brazilian style, Robert Metcalfe (February 7th) remains in a state of denial regarding the problems with Brazilian beef and the EU ban.
The facts are that the EU has banned Brazilian beef. Despite repeated requests over many years, Brazil has failed to meet the standards of food safety and animal health required by the EU.
The false promises and broken commitments from Brazil on standards have seriously damaged its credibility at EU level. The failure of Brazil left the EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, Mr Kyprianou, with no option but to impose a ban by rejecting all Brazilian holdings supplying beef to the EU.
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is endemic in Brazil. Its borders are not secure. Vaccination is incomplete and merely suppresses the condition. The FMD veterinary expert Dr Kevin Dodd has made it very clear that chilling or freezing meat will have no effect on the FMD virus.
There are real FMD risks with beef from Brazil. This is why the US, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand - and now the EU - have imposed bans. - Yours, etc,
PADRAIG WALSHE President, IFA Irish Farm Centre, Bluebell, Dublin 12.