Answer given by Mr Hogan on behalf of the Commission
15.6.2018
Poultry has been identified as a sensitive product in negotiations with Mercosur. This is why the EU is only offering carefully calibrated tariff rate quotas for such products, allowing us to make a market access concession to our partners that is meaningful, while also safeguarding the interests of EU farmers.
The EU already imports substantial amounts of poultry meat from Mercosur countries. This meat has to comply with EU's animal health and food safety requirements and the compliance with those is rigorously checked at borders. Any imports of poultry meat under the free-trade agreement will have to continue to comply with the same requirements.
In the case of a market crisis, the Commission will still be able to resort to market measures that can be taken under Articles 219-220 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013[1].
- [1] Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, (EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007, OJ L 347, 20.12.2013.