Anafric demands that the competitiveness of the European meat sector be guaranteed
The Anafric delegation consisted of its president, José Friguls; vice president, Antoni Jové; and the association's representative in Brussels, Rosa Solanes. The aim of the meetings was to convey the sector's main concerns regarding the regulatory, commercial, and health challenges that are shaping the future of European livestock production.
During their stay in Brussels, the Anafric representatives met with Belén Esteve, parliamentary advisor specializing in international trade to MEP Gabriel Mato, member of the Committee on International Trade (INTA) and substitute for the Committee on Agriculture (AGRI); with MEP Cristina Maestre, member of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development and the Intergroup on Sustainable Livestock Farming; and with Ester Borràs, delegate of the Government of Catalonia to the European Union.
The EU-Mercosur agreement, at the center of the debate
One of the main issues addressed was the trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur. Anafric stressed the need to rigorously assess the impact that this type of agreement can have on sensitive sectors such as the meat industry and called for effective protection mechanisms to address potential market distortions.
The association highlighted the importance of the safeguard clauses included in the negotiation and defended the need for ongoing monitoring of tariff quotas to detect imbalances that could harm European producers.
Regulatory reciprocity and strengthening of controls
Anafric conveyed to European institutions that the environmental, health, animal welfare and food safety requirements that EU companies meet should also be applied to imported products .
In this regard, the association called for a strengthening of health and food safety controls at the border to ensure that imports from third countries meet standards equivalent to those required of European producers.
He also expressed concern about the regulatory costs the sector faces in adapting to health regulations and animal disease prevention and control programs, obligations that international competitors do not always have to meet.
Food security, sustainability and resilience
Anafric also defended the need to address the trade debate from a comprehensive perspective, incorporating aspects related to food safety, public health, sustainability and the resilience of the European food chain.
During the meetings, institutional representatives showed interest in having objective data, sector studies and impact reports that allow for an accurate analysis of the economic and productive consequences of the trade agreements currently under negotiation.
Greater presence of the sector in Brussels
The meat industry association points out that the meetings have also served to strengthen Anafric's dialogue with European policymakers and reinforce the presence of the Spanish meat sector in the forums where policies affecting livestock production and the food industry are designed. "Europe needs to hear firsthand about the realities of our companies. Only in this way can balanced decisions be made that guarantee the economic, social, and productive sustainability of the European livestock sector," stated José Friguls.
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