asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give details of the beef arrangement recently concluded between the EEC and (a) the Argentine and (b) Yugoslavia.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Beef Arrangements.
4.
As the reply is a lengthy one, I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate it with the Official Report.
Following is the reply:
(a) The following are details of the arrangement regarding beef and veal contained in the Agreement between the Community and Argentina, signed on 8th November, 1971:
The Community will endeavour, within its market organisation, to fix the suspension of the levy on frozen meat for processing at the highest possible level. The levy on this product is to be fixed at a level not exceeding 55 per cent of the total levy. Each year information will be exchanged to enable the Community to estimate its annual balance-sheet for this type of meat. If the Community market is disturbed by imports of this meat, or there is a risk of disturbance, the Community may, after consultation with the Argentine, suspend the concession until the situation resettles itself. Also, for imports of frozen meat against the tariff quota bound in the GATT, amounts will be calculated in terms of boned meat. Finally, after each yearly exchange of information with Argentina, the Community will examine the advisability of fixing additional imports under the above tariff quota.
The Community will take measures to ensure that the levy applied to chilled meat may, on request, be fixed in advance. To this end it will establish a prefixation certificate, which will be valid for 30 days, and by which the levy will be fixed on the basis of the amount payable on the day the certificate is requested.
Argentina, for its part, has undertaken to provide an adequate flow of meat products to the Community and to ensure that its meat exports develop along ordered lines. It will also provide the Community with all necessary information on consignments and on current prices.
(b) Yugoslavia signed a non-preferential trade agreement with the Community which came into force on 1st May, 1970. This agreement expires on 30th April, 1973.
The arrangements in regard to baby beef and calves and young cattle are as follows:
In a context of standing co-operation between the parties, the Community will abate the levy on these imports from Yugoslavia in accordance with the difference between the market price and the guide price and in accordance with separate arrangements to apply (i) from 15th August to 31st January and (ii) from 1st February to 14th August. The abatement of the levies was to be lower in the third year than in the first two years.
Yugoslavia undertook to supply to the Community all relevant information on prices, qualities and types— that is to say, live, carcase—of products exported.
Yugoslavia was also to ensure that the free-at-frontier offer price, plus the tariff and reduced levy would remain at the same level as that resulting from application of the normal levy.
Yugoslavia was to take all necessary measures to ensure adequate phasing of deliveries and to provide an agreed form of certificate of origin.
Co-operative arrangements were to be set up to operate the agreement.
Yugoslavia undertook to take remedial measures, in consultation with the Community, where market disturbance occurred or was likely to occur in the Community as a result of increased deliveries arising from the agreement; the Community could suspend the levy reductions if these measures were not taken within ten days, or were not sufficient.
Arising out of the Minister's non-reply, these agreements are very important in relation to Ireland's application. Certainly our farmers are entitled to assurances in relation to access of beef from outside the Community. The Minister should make representations that we as a member will not be put in a disadvantageous position as against third countries.
I dealt with this in the House at Question Time on 26th January, 1972. It is quite clear from the agreement that it will have no effect on our beef trade. The agreements contain provisions to protect the Common Market beef trade against any disturbance.
Could it not have the same effect as the entry of Argentinian and Yugoslavian beef on to the British market had on Irish exports?
No.
Can the Minister assure us of that?
The provision is against the prospect of the disturbance of the beef trade and the type of beef we would be competing against is not the type that would bother us.