The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has insisted proper standards must be applied to all food being sold to European consumers and they must be part of any WTO deal.
IFA President Padraig Walshe, speaking as thousands of farmers gathered in Kilkenny for a Teagasc agriculture and food event, said proper standards must be applied on food safety as well as environment and animal welfare.
"A Volkswagon car sold in Brazil has the same safety standards as a similar car sold in Germany or Ireland. The same basic principle must be applied to food standards," he said.
"This means that for a Brazilian steak to be sold to consumers in Europe, it must meet the proper standards on critical issues such as food safety, traceability, animal health and environmental and social standards."
IFA President Padraig Walshe
Also speaking at the event was Macra na Feirme president Colm Markey, who raised the issue of partnership farming.
Mr Markey said that given the rapid pace of change in Irish farming, interest was now increasing in partnership farming and that as much as possible should be done to facilitate their establishment.
He said: "With the huge increases in land prices, purchasing land to enter farming or expand your business is no longer a realistic option for most farmers."
"Young people who are enthusiastic about farming need to be provided with opportunities to pursue a career in agriculture. We need to look at structures such as share farming, multiple partnerships and allowing farmers who are currently farming together informally to set up formal partnerships."
