On Saturday (23), representatives of 44 entities in the production chain published an open letter in repudiation of the statements made by the CEO of Carrefour in France, Alexandre Bompard, regarding the suspension of the purchase of meat from Mercosur.
The statement by Brazilian associations is a response to , aiming to approve the free trade agreement with the European Union (EU) and the bloc’s anti-deforestation law.
According to the representatives’ statement, the CEO’s decision is unfounded and inconsistent with the principles of the free market, sustainability and international cooperation.
“The announced decision demonstrates a protectionist approach that contradicts the role of a global company with operations in diverse and interdependent markets.”, says the letter.
The representatives also reinforced the importance of Brazil as a global reference in the production and export of animal proteins: “In the last 30 years, Brazilian livestock farming has increased its productivity by 172%, while reducing the pasture area by 16%”.
According to associations, Brazilian environmental legislation is one of the most rigorous in the world.
Furthermore, the representatives reinforced that the exclusion of Mercosur products from the French market could generate inflation and increase carbon emissions due to less efficient transport of local goods.
“If Brazilian meat is not suitable for supplying Carrefour in France, it is difficult to understand how it could be considered suitable for supplying any other market.”, they add.
Check out the full letter
We, the entities representing the Brazilian production chain, express our deep rejection of the recent statements about the suspension of the purchase of Mercosur meat by Carrefour stores in France. We consider this position not only unfounded, but also devoid of coherence with the principles of the free market, sustainability and international cooperation.
The announced decision demonstrates a protectionist approach that contradicts the role of a global company with operations in diverse and interdependent markets. This positioning, in addition to devaluing the quality and sustainability of meat produced in Mercosur countries, undermines the dialogue and partnership necessary to face global challenges such as food security.
Brazil, in turn, is a global reference in the production and export of animal proteins. We are global leaders in the export of beef and chicken, and our production is widely recognized for excellence, being supplied by rigorous sanitary controls and quality standards that serve more than 160 countries, including demanding markets such as the European Union, United States, Japan and China.
Over the last 30 years, Brazilian livestock farming has increased its productivity by 172%, while reducing the pasture area by 16%. These advances were made possible thanks to an ongoing commitment to innovation, production efficiency and sustainable practices. Furthermore, our environmental legislation is one of the most rigorous in the world, ensuring a balance between agricultural production and preservation of natural resources.
The areas dedicated to the preservation of native vegetation by Brazilian agriculture total 282.8 million hectares, representing 33.2% of Brazil’s territory. To give you an idea, this area is equivalent to a little more than four times the territory of France or almost eight times the territory of Germany. Brazil preserves more than twice the area designated for environmental preservation compared to France, a figure that questions Carrefour’s critical stance in relation to our production.
The unjustified exclusion of Mercosur products from the French market not only underestimates the relevance of our exports, but also limits European consumers’ access to high-quality, safer and more sustainable products. Furthermore, such an attitude can generate inflation and increase carbon emissions due to less efficient transport of local goods.
If Brazilian meat is not suitable for supplying Carrefour in France, it is difficult to understand how it could be considered suitable for supplying any other market. After all, if Brazil, with its sustainable practices, its strict environmental legislation and its vast conservation area, would not meet Carrefour’s criteria for the French market, then it would probably not meet the criteria of any other country.
We reaffirm our commitment to responsible, sustainable and oriented production to meet the needs of global markets. Considering that global companies like Carrefour, which operate extensively in Brazil and depend on their production to supply markets around the world, must act based on principles of cooperation, transparency and respect for the free market.
