Madrid – The settlement reached between the European Union and Mercosur international locations (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela) won’t modify meals security and high quality requirements, so all merchandise marketed within the EU should meet stringent well being, phytosanitary, and meals security necessities, whereas this alliance will increase Spanish agri-food exports and embrace safeguard clauses.
Sources from the Spanish Authorities have defined that this settlement with Mercosur, achieved after greater than twenty years of negotiation, doesn’t modify the European Union’s meals security requirements, as these stay “unchanged,” so all merchandise marketed within the EU are required to fulfill the “stringent well being, phytosanitary, and meals security necessities.”
Nonetheless, in response to criticism and calls for from totally different agricultural organizations, which warn of the detrimental impression it may have in Spain on imports of agricultural merchandise from these international locations that don’t adjust to the laws prevailing for group productions, the Spanish Government has emphasised that the settlement “doesn’t change something,” nor may or not it’s referred to as into query, the meals security and high quality requirements throughout the EU.
As well as, it has clarified that this settlement will enable tariffs and sure customs necessities to lower and facilitate entry to those markets, thus favoring the export of agri-food merchandise of nice relevance in Spain similar to olive oil, wine, or pork, amongst others.
Relating to delicate sectors similar to beef, poultry, rice, or sugar, which after signing have complained of being changed into a bargaining chip on this settlement, sources from the Authorities of Spain reiterate that these quotas are effectively outlined and acknowledge that they’ve been “tough parts” on this negotiation by the European Union.
On this method, they’ve indicated that liberalization has been “very measured, very weighed, and doesn’t have the danger of being disruptive,” however specify that within the occasion of any irregular state of affairs, “safeguard measures” have been designed that might be imposed.
Thus, the problem associated to quotas, probably the most difficult when negotiating with Mercosur, has been “very strict and restricted.”
Within the case of beef, the quota will probably be 99,000 tons, just like beef, and poultry meat 180,000 tons. Whereas within the case of sugar, the quota is 180,000 tons and rice is 60,000 tons, quantities that symbolize between 1% and a pair of% of European consumption and manufacturing, which aren’t disruptive to the European market.
Alternatively, relating to the potential of the European Fee revisiting the concept of making a 1,000 million euro fund to compensate for doable market disturbances, the Government has acknowledged that it will be studied from subsequent yr.
On this method, the negotiation has taken into consideration sensitivities by means of partial liberalizations of delicate merchandise, along with current safeguards and the potential of funds to make up for potential damages.
Alternatively, the settlement contains larger safety of Spanish Geographical Indications (GIs) on this case, similar to Jabugo Ham, Baena Olive Oil, Ribera del Duero wine, or Jerez Brandy, amongst others.
Sources from the Authorities led by Pedro Sánchez have famous that this safety prevents the potential of imitations and unfair business practices that may happen on the facet of producers in Mercosur.
On this method, within the case of Spain, 59 will probably be protected, of which three correspond to spirits, 28 to wines, and 28 for the remainder of the meals.
Subsequently, this settlement is taken into account an “alternative” for agricultural exporters, as it’ll enable them to put their European merchandise within the markets that make up Mercosur, as this alliance not solely strengthens business and financial relations with the area but in addition establishes a stable framework for advancing in sustainability and strategic cooperation with the area. (December 19)
