Luxembourg, 14/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - The latest data on the European beef meat sector, which were debated last week by the agricultural organisations, show that producers are experiencing a tough situation, according to a press release issued by COPA-COGECA on Friday 11 April.
The beef producers are being “squeezed” between a sharp drop in beef prices and an increase in production costs, the European organisation explains.
On average, beef prices in Europe have fallen by 5% since the start of the year compared to last year, whilst input costs, especially feed prices, are rising rapidly. “Even if in the short term, European beef meat production is forecast to increase slightly, long-term prospects are not positive in terms of production and consumption. EU production and consumption are predicted to decrease by around 7% over the period 2014-2023 compared to the 2010-2012 average, forecasts show, whilst imports should increase”, a COPA-COGECA expert explained.
The agricultural organisations argue that European production “should not be the variable used to adjust the European market”. They go on to reiterate that European producers, who comply with “the highest production standards in the world”, are put at a competitive disadvantage as other countries do not have to meet the same costly regulations and obligations. By way of example, the use of antibiotics as growth promoters is banned in the EU, but allowed in other parts of the world. Additionally, outside the EU, there is no on-farm meat inspection system. The Commission is called upon to guarantee, in the framework of the forthcoming bilateral trade negotiations, that European production standards are complied with. In particular, an assessment of the impact of the trade negotiations between the EU and the United States on the beef sector is required. (LC)