Chicken and beef prices set to rise

Chicken and beef prices could rise considerably on the Canaries after the suspension of a trade agreement between Brazil and the EU.

The Mercosur-EU agreement is likely to be suspended on 3rd September following the EU’s decision that Brazilian produce does not comply with new anti-microbial regulations.

This will affect the Canaries, which imports 55% of beef and 70% of chicken from Brazil. Some experts predict that chicken prices could increase by up to 25%, while beef could rise by 10-15%. Alternate suppliers are being investigated, but all are more expensive than the Brazilian suppliers.

Meanwhile, British farmers are also concerned that the UK, which is not subject to EU decisions, could provide an alternative market for Brazilian produce. When the EU suspended poultry imports from Brazil due to a bird flu outbreak last summer, UK imports from Brazil increased by 100%.