Anger of farmers: “No meat from Mercosur” will be sold in this French distribution brand

The announcement is strong and should reassure some farmers. The mass distribution brand Carrefour is committed to “do not market any meat from Mercosur”declares Mr. Bompard in a letter addressed to Arnaud Rousseau, president of the National Federation of Agricultural Operators' Unions (FNSEA).

“Everywhere in France, we hear the dismay and anger of farmers in the face of the proposed free trade agreement” between the EU and the countries of South America, explained the boss of Carrefour stores to justify his new decision.

In this document published on “risk of spillover onto the French market of meat production not respecting its requirements and standards”, and says his company is committed to “not sell any meat from Mercosur.

“It is by coming together that we can reassure French breeders”

The latter hopes that others “actors in the agri-food sector” follow suit, beyond “from the distribution sector alone, already at the forefront of the fight in favor of France's meat origins.” “It is by coming together that we can reassure French breeders that there will be no circumvention possible”.

French farmers find that their farms are threatened by the free trade agreement that the European Union (EU) is negotiating with Latin American Mercosur countries such as Brazil and Argentina.

While Mercosur would export agricultural products to the EU first (beef, poultry, pork, honey, sugar, etc.), producers denounce unfair competition conditions, because these products do not meet the same environmental standards, or even sanitary conditions than in Europe.