SCOTLAND’S BEEF farmers attending this week’s Royal Highland Show at Ingliston are being urged to sign a petition drawn-up by the Scottish Beef Cattle Association, writes Ewan Pate, the farming editor. It will call for a ban of Brazilian beef imports.

The move follows a presentation last week in Edinburgh where an Irish delegation, recently back from the South American country, described serious shortcomings in production standards.

The petition will be handed over to the agriculture committee of the European Parliament by SBCA president John Cameron next month.

Mr Cameron has accepted an invitation from Neil Parish MEP, chairman of the agriculture committee to lead a delegation and give a presentation to the committee when it meets in Brussels on July 16 and 17.

The delegation will include members of the Irish investigation team .

Mr Cameron said, “I am looking forward to meeting the members of the EU agriculture committee and the opportunity to let them know at first hand the situation in Brazil.

“It is not in the best interests of the EU authorities to have continuing non-compliance of their own regulations and beef producers in Scotland will look to them to take action.

“The commission can’t have it both ways—either Brazil is complying or not. There can be no question of part compliance and if it is established that they are not complying then it is incumbent upon them to impose a ban until the Brazilian authorities comply.”

Mr Cameron added, “We have presented clear evidence that our market in Europe is being undermined by beef imports which are being produced with absolutely no regard to animal health and welfare.

“The SBCA will not tolerate this and we have already enlisted the support of a wide range of politicians and like minded organisations to take this forward. By gathering a petition of names of Scottish beef farmers visiting this week’s Highland this will demonstrate the widespread concern shown by our farmers.

“Every signature is important and we urge everyone who depends on the future of beef farming to come to our stand (No 542 in Avenue 15) and sign the petition.”

Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead, has already expressed his support. On Monday he met UK Secretary of State for the Environment, David Miliband, and his counterparts from the devolved administrations in Wales and Northern Ireland.

Speaking after the meeting Mr Lochhead said, “I said ahead of my meeting today that I wanted to raise the issue of Brazilian beef with Mr Miliband. I am very concerned about this issue and outlined those concerns to the Secretary of State.

“He assured me that the industry’s decision to present evidence to the commission was the correct course of action and that DEFRA officials were also raising this issue with the commission. I, myself, intend to write to the commission to stress Scotland’s position.”