In the days when we were banned from export markets, because of BSE, we went to similar lengths to demonstrate the effectiveness of our traceability.
However, Brazil's best was not good enough, and that the MEPs – including Jim Nicholson and Jim Allister – were not swayed from their view that Brazil has a mountain to climb before it can be back as a major supplier to the European market.
In Brazil they found evidence of poor hygiene standards and while cattle were tagged on the farms they visited there was ample evidence that this was not widespread. This raises questions about the effectiveness of EU Food and Veterinary Office inspectors, who are still in Brazil.
To their credit they are being rigorous when it comes to approving farms, since only around 100 have been cleared for export. Reports, however, of continuing hygiene and other problems at abattoirs are worrying, and it is important Europe does not relent in its demands that standards must be the same in Brazil, and other countries that supply the EU, as they would be in any abattoir in Europe.
While the determination of MEPs to pursue the Brazilian beef issue is welcome, this probe now needs to be extended to other commodities and other countries. Questions need to be raised about poultry and pigmeat from South America and Asia. European consumers should know more about standards there – not least with regard to whether the animals have been fed on genetically modified feeds not approved in Europe.
These are not harmful, and they have been approved elsewhere, but when the European Commission is denying its own farmers access to these it should be ensuring that the same standards are applied in countries from which it imports.
Another problem is frozen chicken being processed for products that appear to be fresh. These are in fact produced from chicken pieces thawed in vast microwave ovens, and for years the poultry industry in Europe has been urging the Commission to insist these are clearly labelled as having been produced from frozen meat.
It believes consumers are being misled, and also that they risk re-freezing a product they believe to be fresh. To date the Commission has ignored these calls and seems set to continue doing so.
Ironically, Russia is now considering a ban on all frozen poultry imports. MEPs might rightly ask why Russia believes these are unacceptable, while the Commission is walking towards a WTO deal that will dismantle what little protection Europe enjoys.
In the past a Russian ban on meat products from Poland, because of hygiene concerns, embarrassed the Commission into action. In the face threats that Russia would extend its ban to all EU member states the Commission was forced to drop the pretence that standards were the same across the EU.
Action was forced on those failing to meet EU standards - but this may not have happened if Russia had not embarrassed the Commission.
Armed with their success over Brazil it would be good news if MEPs demanded answers from the Commission about why it is so slow to act against countries whose standards do not match those in Europe and why it will not toughen labelling rules.
As to Brazil the signs are that it will be out of the European beef market for a considerable time. This is a blow to its beef industry, but its agricultural industry is going from strength to strength. It is on target to become the world's biggest exporter of soya. It is also a big producer of sugar cane, and this is now the basis of its biofuel industry.
This is Brazil's real agricultural interest. It knows the US and Europe cannot hope to produce the crops they need to meet their biofuel targets. Brazil is now developing an efficient processing industry to supply their needs. If this works out it will matter little for its economy whether it ever gets back to being a major player in Europe.
Even if it does it will not be the price competitor it once was, since its costs will have risen to meet EU standards and beef is now having to compete for returns with a booming arable and biofuel industry.