From: Cool Earth
Irish farmers have hit out at the Brazilian beef industry, which washed its hands of accusations of managing cattle in a manner detrimental to the Amazon rainforest this month.
The Irish Farmers Association called Brazilian beef processors guilty of an "ongoing failure" to meet EU standards, while Amazon farmers said the Irish industry was jealous of its success, reports meatinfo.
Brazilian farmers came under fire for clearing large areas of the Amazon rainforest for cattle herding, as environmentalists urged consumers to boycott beef from this area.
Director of the Association of Brazilian Beef Exporter, Otavio Hermont Cancado, said Ireland's response had been childish and reminiscent of primary school politics.
He said: "Brazil's path has already been mapped out by the competence, maturity and competitiveness of its producers and its processing industries.
"It now remains to be seen how long the Irish child will take before it matures and becomes a competitor up to our standards."
Earlier this month, the Brazilian Embassy also defended itself against a Greenpeace report called Slaughtering the Amazon, saying that European consumers should be assured of the nation's ethical farming processes.