In order to defend Brazilian farmers, the Brazilian Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock (CNA) has announced it will take action within the European Union against the Carrefour Group and other French companies. These organizations have claimed, based on false accusations, that they will stop purchasing meat from Mercosur countries.
CNA President, João Martins, and CNA Legal Consultant, Carlos Bastide Horbach, commented on the issue, emphasizing the measures being taken to defend Brazilian farmers.
“We were taken by surprise by Carrefour and other companies’ actions, as they suddenly sought to spread the view that the meat we export to Europe is not of good quality and does not meet European standards. This is not true since Brazil has become the largest meat exporter in the world. We not only supply the United States and Europe, but also the Middle East, China, and other Asian countries. In response to these accusations, we felt compelled to engage our office in Brussels and the legal team representing us there to take the necessary actions to uncover the truth.” — João Martins, CNA President
“Under the guidance of President João Martins, CNA’s legal team is already discussing with the Brussels-based office that represents the Confederation to assess Carrefour’s actions and those of other French companies. Supported by the French government, as evidenced by recent remarks from France’s Minister of Agriculture, these measures could be regarded as a violation of European Union competition defense rules. Therefore, CNA will file a formal complaint with EU authorities to uphold economic freedom and protect Brazilian production in this specific market.”
— Carlos Bastide Horbach, CNA Legal Consultant