Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 March 2017
184. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the annual volume of Brazilian beef imported into the EU over the 2014 to 2016 period based on latest data; the total amount of Brazilian beef imported into the EU as a percentage of total beef consumed in the EU in this period; the current annual quota of Brazilian beef permitted into the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14743/17]
View answerUsing the latest data available from the European Commission, Brazil exported a total of 421,530 tonnes of beef into the EU during the 2014 to 2016 period. Broken down by year, imports of beef from Brazil were 144,259 tonnes in 2014, 136,705 tonnes in 2015 and 140,566 tonnes in 2016. During this same period of 2014 to 2016, the EU as a whole consumed a total 23.5 million tonnes of beef, therefore 1.8% of the total consumed came from Brazil.
Under the "Hilton Quota" which is the informal name given to the country-specific preferential tariff rate quota regulated by Commission Regulation (EC) No 936/97 of 27 May 1997 for the European Union, Brazil is currently allowed to import 10,000 tonnes of beef per annum tariff free.
