Slovak Agricultural and Food Chamber joins EU farmers in protest

The Slovak Agricultural and Food Chamber (SPPK) will join Czech and other EU farmers in protesting the Mercosur trade agreement on Thursday (February 27). Farmers will stage a tractor protest at the Hodonín-Holíč border crossing to oppose the EU's reduction of trade barriers for Latin American agricultural imports, SPPK announced on Tuesday.

A convoy of agricultural machinery will depart from Radošovce (Trnava region) at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, escorted by police, and head toward the border.

Farmers argue that Latin American agriculture permits the use of antibiotics, unauthorized hormonal substances, and banned meat-and-bone meal. They claim that by signing the Mercosur agreement and reducing tariffs, these potentially risky products will have greater access to European consumers. The agreement is expected to increase EU imports of beef, poultry, pork, sugar, and honey.

If fully implemented, the Mercosur agreement would create the world’s largest free trade area, covering more than 780 million people.

Source: TASR