SNP President, Ian Hudghton MEP, has welcomed a petition by the Scottish Beef Cattle Association to ban cheap Brazilian beef imports to the EU.

Mr Hudghton, who has been approached by North East constituents concerned at the competition from imports from Brazil, is supporting the petition after an Irish fact-finding delegation to Brazil found alarming flaws in cattle treatment, traceability, and the use of hormone growth promoters.

Mr Hudghton has claimed that the factual evidence included in the report vindicates the move for an outright ban on imports.

Commenting, Mr Hudghton says:

“The Irish mission to Brazil confirmed the worst suspicions over the standards of that country’s beef industry. The almost non-existent use of cattle tagging or foot and mouth disease controls, and the use of growth hormones are far below the standards of the Scottish beef industry and the expectations of most consumers.

“These findings are damning and vindicate the moves to impose an outright ban on cheap Brazilian beef imports which dilute the market with unfair competition.

“I support the petition organised by the SBCA and my message to consumers in Scotland is to look carefully for the provenance of their beef and buy Scottish.”