A Brazilian diplomat, speaking anonymously, told Reuters that French officials had pressed Lula to veto the bill. © GourmeyFrench foie gras trade body CIFOG has argued that the ban breaches the terms of the EU-Mercosur deal. The Brazilian diplomat pushed back on France’s standing to object, citing its own resistance to ratifying that agreement. Contested welfare claimsA European Union report published in 2022 concluded that foie gras production met animal welfare rules, a finding Brazilian campaigners dispute. I don’t know what they mean by ‘good treatment,’ but for animal welfare organizations, there is no wellbeing involved,” she said.