The CEO of Carrefour in France, Alexandre Bompard, took everyone by surprise on Wednesday (20) when he announced that .
“Across France, we hear the consternation and indignation of farmers at the draft free trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and Mercosur; and we consider the risk of negative repercussions on the French market of marketing a product that does not comply with European requirements and standards,” wrote Bompard in a letter to the president of the National Federation of French Agricultural Operators’ Unions, Arnaud Rousseau.
“In response to this concern, Carrefour wants to be together with the agricultural world and is making a commitment not to sell any meat from Mercosur.”
due to pressure from local producers. In addition to this treatment, Bompard referred in the letter to the EU’s anti-deforestation law.
The standard is , as it provides for a ban on imports from areas that have been deforested from 2022 onwards, even though there are no restrictions on deforestation there.
Nevertheless, a series of political and economic agents in the country were ready to come out in defense of the meat produced in the region and repudiate Carrefour’s decision.
Government and entities repudiate speech
In an official note, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) rejected Bompard’s statement, defending “the quality and commitment of Brazilian agriculture to legislation and good agricultural practices, in line with international guidelines”.
The Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) also refuted Bompard’s statement, classifying it as .
On Thursday (21), repudiating the decision of Carrefour in France.
Together, the Brazilian Agriculture and Livestock Confederation (CNA), the Brazilian Association of Meat Exporting Industries (ABIEC), the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA), the Brazilian Agribusiness Association (ABAG), the Brazilian Rural Society (SRB) and the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (Fiesp) were emphatic.
“If the Global CEO of the Carrefour Group, Alexandre Bompard, understands that Mercosur is not a worthy supplier to the French market – which is no different from the Spanish, Belgian, Arab, Turkish, Italian –, the undersigned entities consider that, if not it is used to supply Carrefour in the French market, it is not used to supply Carrefour in any other country”, the entities wrote in the note.
In an interview with CNN Moneythe president of ABPA, Ricardo Santin, pointed out the attitude as protectionist, .
Despite the sector having come out in defense of the quality and health standards adopted by Brazilian production, Carrefour sought to clarify that Bompard’s statement did not “refer to the quality of the Mercosur product, but only to a demand from the French agricultural sector, currently in a context of crisis.”
And how is Carrefour in Brazil?
The Carrefour Group states that the measure only affects the retailer’s French stores. “All other countries where the Carrefour Group operates, including Brazil and Argentina, continue to operate without any changes and can continue to purchase meat from Mercosur. In other countries, where there is the franchise model, there are also no changes.”
Still, the governor of Mato Grosso, Mauro Mendes (União), said he is.
The Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Fávaro, also indicated that the .
And what is the impact on Brazil?
Minimum, . “The Brazilian export market is very hot at the moment, due to the high global demand for beef, pork and poultry products that only we can meet”, explains Felippe Serigatti, researcher at the Agribusiness Center at FGV Agro.
“France is the most protectionist member of the EU, as it is one of the strongest countries in agriculture. The internal pressure currently taking place against the agreement is very great. The CEO’s statement reflects a signal that, if ratified, the company will support French producers.”
Furthermore, it is worth highlighting that, of the US$22 billion sold by Brazil in beef, pork and poultry in 2023, .
