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Madrid – The agreement reached between the European Union and Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela) will not modify food safety and quality standards, so all products marketed in the EU must meet stringent health, phytosanitary, and food safety requirements, while this alliance will boost Spanish agri-food exports and include safeguard clauses.
Sources from the Spanish Government have explained that this agreement with Mercosur, achieved after more than two decades of negotiation, does not modify the European Union’s food safety standards, as these remain “unchanged,” so all products marketed in the EU are required to meet the “stringent health, phytosanitary, and food safety requirements.”
However, in response to criticism and demands from different agricultural organizations, which warn of the negative impact it could have in Spain on imports of agricultural products from these countries that do not comply with the regulations prevailing for community productions, the Spanish Executive has emphasized that the agreement “does not change anything,” nor could it be called into question, the food safety and quality standards within the EU.
In addition, it has clarified that this agreement will allow tariffs and certain customs requirements to decrease and facilitate access to these markets, thus favoring the export of agri-food products of great relevance in Spain such as olive oil, wine, or pork, among others.
Regarding sensitive sectors such as beef, poultry, rice, or sugar, which after signing have complained of being turned into a bargaining chip in this agreement, sources from the Government of Spain reiterate that these quotas are well defined and acknowledge that they have been “difficult elements” in this negotiation by the European Union.
In this way, they have indicated that liberalization has been “very measured, very weighed, and does not have the risk of being disruptive,” but specify that in the event of any abnormal situation, “safeguard measures” have been designed that could be imposed.
Thus, the issue related to quotas, one of the most complicated when negotiating with Mercosur, has been “very strict and limited.”
In the case of beef, the quota will be 99,000 tons, similar to beef, and poultry meat 180,000 tons. While in the case of sugar, the quota is 180,000 tons and rice is 60,000 tons, amounts that represent between 1% and 2% of European consumption and production, which are not disruptive to the European market.
On the other hand, regarding the possibility of the European Commission revisiting the idea of creating a 1,000 million euro fund to compensate for possible market disturbances, the Executive has stated that it would be studied from next year.
In this way, the negotiation has taken into account sensitivities through partial liberalizations of sensitive products, in addition to existing safeguards and the possibility of funds to make up for potential damages.
On the other hand, the agreement includes greater protection of Spanish Geographical Indications (GIs) in this case, such as Jabugo Ham, Baena Olive Oil, Ribera del Duero wine, or Jerez Brandy, among others.
Sources from the Government led by Pedro Sánchez have noted that this protection prevents the possibility of imitations and unfair commercial practices that can occur on the side of producers in Mercosur.
In this way, in the case of Spain, 59 will be protected, of which three correspond to spirits, 28 to wines, and 28 for the rest of the food.
Therefore, this agreement is considered an “opportunity” for agricultural exporters, as it will allow them to place their European products in the markets that make up Mercosur, as this alliance not only strengthens commercial and economic relations with the region but also establishes a solid framework for advancing in sustainability and strategic cooperation with the region. (December 19)