Farmers say hormone found in Brazilian beef should be ‘red line’ on trade dealBy Cillian Sherlock, Press AssociationThe discovery of a prohibited growth hormone in beef originating in Brazil that entered Ireland should be a “wake-up call” for the Government, according to farmers. The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has called on the Government to oppose the Mercosur trade deal ahead of an EU vote on Friday. The EU must publish the full details of this immediately and before there is any vote on the Mercosur deal. “In 2024, another EU audit found that the Brazilian system to stop hormones entering the EU food chain could not be relied upon. “Yet, hormones have now entered the EU and Irish food chain.

Source: Irish Independent January 07, 2026 17:03 UTC