Campaigners are resounding their concerns over the future of Europe’s animal welfare and environmental standards following the European Commission’s (EC) successful push to finalize a free trade agreement with the Mercosur countries of South America. In the deal, EU F&B standards must legally remain the same, but with open access to huge markets where lower requirements may pose a threat to quality assurance in the bloc. Stephanie Ghislain, political affairs manager for the lobby organization Eurogroup for Animals, tells Food Ingredients First that while the deal ensures certain aspects of meat production will remain the same, important loopholes exist.
