Day 068 - 16 Dec 94 - Page 33
1 A. Yes. McDonald's does not buy -- no, we do not import
2 products from Brazil, and it is not only because of our
3 public relations that may be affected, but it is primarily
4 because Brazil is limited in their export capabilities
5 because the disease that is called hoof and mouth disease,
6 which is recognised by the United Nations and world health
7 organisations. So you cannot import to the US, you cannot
8 import product from Brazil.
9
10 Q. But McDonald's in other countries have bought beef from
11 Brazil in the past?
12 A. As far as I know, heard or discuss, we have never even
13 mentioned that we are looking at moving product from Brazil
14 into any other country.
15
16 Q. So, in fact, going back from before your time, from what
17 you have been told by other people, the policy has been
18 never to buy beef from Brazil, has it?
19 A. No, sir. As I mentioned before, our policy has always
20 been, as far as I can remember, as far as I have heard, not
21 to use any beef from any areas that are considered
22 rainforest. Brazil has areas that is rainforest; it also
23 has areas that is not rainforest. We do not state on our
24 policy that we condemn a country because a part of that
25 country is a rainforest.
26
27 Q. But, as far as you know, no other McDonald's, from what you
28 have been told, has bought beef from Brazil ever, from
29 Brazil?
30 A. From McDonald's to McDonald's, and from McDonald's to
31 Brazil, that is a correct statement (sic).
32
33 Q. So if, hypothetically, someone had bought some beef from
34 Brazil, from another McDonald's, from McDonald's anywhere,
35 had bought beef from Brazil, if they were saying it was not
36 from recently deforested rainforest areas, that would apply
37 to not deforested since the operation started in Brazil,
38 would it? Would it be the same standard as the companies
39 in that country itself? Do you see what I am saying?
40 A. That is correct. They will follow, if they could,
41 which has not been for years, and I would hate to speculate
42 on an issue where we spend an enormous amount of efforts to
43 prevent; I really would not like to discuss "what if", to
44 speculate on something that will require a very intense
45 answer. Could you be more specific in terms of your
46 question?
47
48 MR. JUSTICE BELL: It was a hypothetical question. It was one
49 which, I must say, I did not understand. Hypothetical
50 questions are difficult in the first place. They are even
51 more difficult if the person has just said: "I do not know
52 of that happening." Maybe it happened, maybe it did not,
53 but he does not know. Then to ask him a hypothetical
54 question about it is really ----
55
56 MR. MORRIS: Give another example. Australia has rainforests;
57 yes?
58 A. As far as I know. I have not seen it.
59
60 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Let us pause there. I just want to ask one
