Madam, - If anybody is guilty of sour grapes, it is Robert Metcalfe (December 21st).
The EU Commission has rightly decided to restrict the eligibility of Brazilian beef producers, who will be permitted to export into the EU from only 300 farms or ranches, down from the current level of 15,000. This is because Brazil has consistently failed to meet EU standards.
In its decision, the EU Commission says it has "identified serious instances of non-compliance with regard to holding registration, animal identification and movement control, and a failure to respect their [ Brazil's] previous commitments to take the appropriate corrective measures". - Yours, etc,
PADRAIG WALSHE, IFA President, Dublin 12.