The EU will not compromise on imports of beef raised with the use of hormones and it will maintain geographical location on products in negotiations with the U.S. and other countries for free trade agreements.
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Speaking at the National Farmers’ Union Conference in Birmingham, Jean-Marc Trarieux, head of unit for the Americas at the European Commission said that in negotiations with the US for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) the EU will hold out on its stance over products produced using hormones and antibiotics.
He said that in the negotiations with Canada for a free trade agreement the EU had not changed its requirements over hormone free beef and pork free from ractopamine.
He added that the EU also imports a lot of poultry from Brazil, but the agreement ensures that it is antibiotic free. And he said that any agreement with the US would be the same.
Trarieux said that the negotiations with the US need to progress with substance and at speed.
He added that there is a willingness on both sides to advance the negotiations and that sanitary and phytosanitary measures are at the centre of the negotiations.
Jean-Marc Trarieux told the conference that the European Commission had pressed the points in its negotiations with Canada for a FTA and he saw no reason why the same points could not be pressed in the discussions with the US.
He said the EU and Canada had managed to reach agreement on most agricultural products and the only ones that were not included in the FTA were poultry, eggs and most dairy products.
One of the sticking points at present that needed to be settled with the US is also the status of EU products with a protected geographical standing. ■
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