182. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is concerned regarding the high volume of importing of Brazilian beef impact on public health, since the EU commission announced plans to remove it from the EU safe food list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52277/26]

On 12th May, the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed voted in favour of a draft Commission Implementing Regulation (EU). The effect of this regulation was to amend Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 as regards the restrictions of the prohibition on the use of certain antimicrobial medicinal products and to repeal Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2598. Regulation 2021/405 lists the third countries, or regions thereof, authorised for entry into the Union of certain animals and products of animal origin. The amended list omits Brazil as an approved country for entry of meat and meat products into the EU with effect from September 3rd thereby excluding Brazilian beef from the EU market from that date. Specifying a delayed application date is not unusual as it provides international trading partners with the necessary transition period to adapt supply chains and to comply with the regulation. This decision reflects a robust response by the EU in maintaining high EU SPS standards across the union.

In 2025, the CSO recorded that the total volume of beef imported into Ireland was 40,910 metric tonnes of which Brazil accounted for less than 1% (172 metric tonnes).