73. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there has been increased physical checks on Brazilian beef into Ireland following the EU Commissions plans to remove Brazilian beef from the EU safe food list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52217/26]

In March 2025, the European Commission increased the frequency of physical checks at EU Border Control Posts on consignments of bovine minced meat, bovine meat preparations and fresh meat of bovines from Brazil until further notice. The minimum prescribed physical inspection rate is 30% for fresh bovine meat and 100% for bovine meat products and bovine meat preparations. Data for the previous twelve months shows Ireland is performing 100% physical checks on all consignments of Brazilian beef across all product types (fresh meat, meat preparations and meat products).

In May 2026, the European Commission confirmed that Brazil will no longer be authorised to export a range of animal products to the EU from September 3.