The Polish political and agricultural scene is grappling with the consequences of a scandal concerning contaminated beef from Brazil. The Ministry of Agriculture reassures that the questioned meat batches did not reach the domestic market, but the opposition is demanding the resignation of Deputy Minister Stefan Krajewski. In the background of the dispute over food safety, negotiations are ongoing regarding the Mercosur agreement and potential fertilizer price cuts, which are intended to improve the dramatic financial situation of farmers.

Scandal over Brazilian beef

An EU alert about contaminated meat caused panic, but the ministry assures that the contaminated batches did not reach Polish shops or wholesalers.

Motion to dismiss Krajewski

A parliamentary committee will consider a motion to dismiss the deputy minister of agriculture in connection with allegations of sluggishness in responding to the sanitary threat.

Possible fertilizer price cuts

Brussels is preparing an aid package that includes suspending tariffs on fertilizers, which is intended to support farmers struggling with high costs.

Controversies surrounding meat imports from South American countries have intensified after it was revealed that Polish authorities may have known about the contamination of Brazilian beef since November of last year. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MRiRW) issued an official statement, emphasizing that no batches of the frozen product covered by the EU sanitary alert were approved for sale in Poland. Despite this, Deputy Minister Stefan Krajewski faces a motion for a vote of no confidence, which will be put to a vote in a parliamentary committee. The opposition accuses the ministry's leadership of sluggishness and a lack of transparency in informing the public about the threats. The image crisis coincides with a difficult economic situation in the countryside, where low grain prices in storage contrast with high production costs. Jan Krzysztof Ardanowski, former Minister of Agriculture, warns that the Polish countryside has not been in such a deep regression for years. However, hope for improved profitability comes from an initiative by the European Commission, which is considering a temporary suspension of tariffs on fertilizers. Such a step could significantly lower operational costs for farms, although Brussels simultaneously refuses additional subsidies for the pig farming sector, arguing this is due to progressive market stabilization. These actions are part of a broader debate on the future shape of the CAP after 2027. Since 2004, the moment of joining the European Union, Polish agriculture has had to adapt to some of the most restrictive sanitary and veterinary standards in the world, making Poland a leading food exporter in the region. In international relations, Poland finds itself in a specific position. On one hand, the agriculture ministry is pushing to expedite procedures enabling the export of Polish apples to the Brazilian market, while on the other, agricultural communities demand the blocking of the agreement with Mercosur. PiS politicians calculate that the government has only a dozen or so days left to challenge the legality of this agreement before the Court of Justice of the European Union. The situation is complicated by reports of a lack of support from Brussels for pig producers, which Deputy Head of MRiRW, Małgorzata Gromadzka, is trying to mitigate by pointing to the Commission's accurate diagnosis of the needs of eastern regions. Final decisions regarding the future of Minister Krajewski and the strategy towards imports from South America will dominate the upcoming week in parliament. „Nigdy nie pozwolimy, by na polskie stoły trafiła żywność niespełniająca naszych wyśrubowanych norm jakościowych.” (We will never allow food that does not meet our stringent quality standards to reach Polish tables.) — Stefan Krajewski

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