The agreement reached between the European Union and the countries of Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela) will not modify food safety and quality standardsso all products marketed in The EU must comply with the demanding sanitary, phytosanitary and food safety requirementswhile this alliance will boost Spanish agri-food exports and include safeguard clauses.
Specifically, sources from the Spanish Government have explained that this agreement with Mercosur, achieved after more than two decades of negotiation, does not modify the food safety standards of the European Unionsince these remain “unaltered”, so all products marketed in the EU are required to comply with the “demanding sanitary, phytosanitary and food safety requirements”.
However, in the face of criticism and demands from different agricultural organizations, which warn of the negative impact that imports of agricultural products from those countries could have in Spain and Europe and that they do not comply with the regulations that prevail for community production, the Executive has stressed that the agreement “it doesn’t change anything”nor could the food safety and quality standards within the EU be questioned.
Furthermore, he specified that this agreement will allow tariffs and certain customs requirements to be lowered and, in this way, access to these markets will be facilitated, which will favor the export of agri-food products of great relevance in Spain such as olive oil, wine or pork, among others.
Regarding sensitive sectors such as beefthe poultryhe rice or the sugarwhich after the signing have denounced having become a bargaining chip in this agreement, Government sources reiterate that these quotas are well defined and they recognize that they have been “difficult elements” in this negotiation by the European Union.
In this way, they have pointed out that liberalization has been “very measured, very priced and has no risk of being disruptive”but they specify that in the event of any anomalous situation, “safeguard measures” have been designed that could be imposed.
Thus, the issue related to quotas, one of the most complicated when negotiating with Mercosur, has been “very strict and limited”.
In the case of beef, the quota will be 99,000 tons, that of bovine meat will be similar, and poultry meat will be 180,000 tons.
While in the case of sugar the quota is 180,000 tons and that of rice is 60,000 tons, quantities that represent between 1% and 2% of European consumption and production, which are not disruptive for the European market.
On the other hand, and on the possibility of the idea being taken up again by the European Commission of the creation of a fund of 1,000 million euros To compensate for possible market disturbances, the Executive has indicated that it would be studied starting next year.
In this way, sensitivities have been taken into account in the negotiation through partial liberalization of sensitive products, in addition to safeguards and the possibility of funds to compensate for potential damages.
On the other hand, the agreement includes a greater protection of Geographical Indications (PGI) Spanish in this case such as Jabugo Ham, Baena Oil, Ribera del Duero wine or Jerez brandy, among others.
Government sources have noted that this protection avoids the possibility of imitations and unfair commercial practices that may occur on the part of producers in Mercosur.
In this way, in the case of Spain, 59 will be protected, of which three correspond to spirit drinks, 28 for wines and 28 for other foods.
For this reason, it is considered that this agreement is an “opportunity” for agricultural exporters, since it will allow them to place their European products in the markets that make up Mercosur, since this alliance not only strengthens commercial and economic relations with the region , but also establishes a solid framework to advance in terms of sustainability and strategic cooperation with the region.
(With information from Europa Press)
