An Irish MEP has claimed that Brazil underreports the level of use of antibiotics in its livestock and food production sector.

Ciaran Mullooly said he has raised the issue with the European Commission, saying that underreporting antibiotic use "raises major public health concerns in light of growing threats" of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

His statements come as the EU and the South American trading bloc Mercosur - of which Brazil is a member - inch closer to ratifying a trade agreement that would allow an additional 99,000t of South American beef, as well as various amounts of other food products, enter the EU at reduced tariffs.

The use of antibiotics in food production has long been identified as a key factor in the emergence of AMR, which can lead to resistant infections in humans.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), AMR is linked to 1.27 million human deaths per year around the world.

The EU has taken steps to reduce antibiotic use in its own food production sector. However, according to Mullooly, concern remains over antibiotic use in other food producing regions.

The Ireland Midlands--North-West MEP claimed that, while the EU, US, Canada and Australia provide regulatory data on the amount of antibiotics used in their food producing sectors, Brazil has "consistently failed to provide adequate data".

Mullooly further claimed that the "only interpretation" to explain this alleged lack of data is that "the use of antibiotics is widespread and there are inadequate controls".

The Independent Ireland MEP said that testing food products that enter the EU "only covers one day of the animal's production cycle".

"Europe's progress in reducing antibiotic use in food production is clear evidence of our commitment to protecting public health. However, the lack of reliable data and transparency in other regions, including Brazil, poses a significant threat not only to consumers in those countries but also through imports of food products," Mullooly said.

He called on the European Commission to press for greater transparency and rigorous reporting standards from countries exporting to the EU.

He said: "The battle against AMR is global. We cannot allow weak reporting and inadequate reporting standards from countries exporting to the EU.

"It is yet another clear example that the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement, which includes significant tariff-free beef, poultry and pork exports to the EU, must not be ratified. No economic arguments can justify compromising the human health of EU citizens," Mullooly added.