French MEP Mathilde Androuët (Patriots for Europe) has asked the European Commission to verify whether beef imported from Mercosur countries complies with EU animal welfare standards, citing evidence of intensive feedlot practices in Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. The question, submitted on 17 June 2026, targets a potential gap between the EU's stated commitments under the Farm to Fork Strategy and the reality of production methods used by Mercosur exporters.
Androuët's parliamentary question references images recorded by the Animal Welfare Foundation between August 2025 and March 2026, which show cattle destined for the EU market being raised in feedlots, confined to open-air pens, and fed artificial grain-based diets to accelerate weight gain before slaughter. She argues these practices contradict the EU's position that the EU-Mercosur agreement upholds EU animal health standards and promotes cooperation on animal welfare.
whether the Commission has verified the information with the governments of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, and whether it can guarantee that imported beef does not originate from such practices. The question does not include numerical targets or deadlines but seeks concrete assurances.
This intervention reflects ongoing tensions between trade liberalisation and the EU's regulatory standards, particularly in agriculture. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks; its answer will signal whether it plans to investigate the claims or rely on existing certification mechanisms. The outcome could affect EU-Mercosur trade relations and consumer confidence in imported beef.