Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/1999-11-03-Speech-3-040"
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"en.19991103.5.3-040"2
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"My information is that there have been more than forty cases diagnosed of new variant CJD. In relation to the provenance of animals from labeling, you are correct to the extent that the legislative regime that is to be established at Community level will ultimately provide that products which are imported from another Member State will identify that it is of EU origin rather than from a Member State origin. What is happening in this situation is that on a voluntary basis the UK propose to keep on their beef the labelling that they have put in place under their beef assurance scheme. It is a purely voluntary aspect and it is not governed by legislation at EU level.
I should say that I am absolutely satisfied as to the competence of the Scientific Steering Committee. It is made up of the chairmen of the eight scientific committees dealing with such issues as food, toxicology and other issues, and then eight others who were selected and appointed by the Commission. They are, let me emphasise, absolutely and completely independent. The Commission cannot tell them what to do, either in relation to the substance of their reports or indeed as to their timing.
In relation to your reference to the Scottish scientists and so on, my understanding is that this issue relates solely to beef on the bone which is not part of the DBES scheme. I am not at all convinced that anything that the Scottish scientists have said on that issue is relevant to exportation from the UK under the DBES.
In relation to your question on the precautionary principle, this is derived from a concept that was first laid down in the environment field. It lays down the basis on which the precautionary principle will be applied. It is quite specific in the way it says that it should be applied and one of the specific aspects is that there has to be an absence of scientific evidence in relation to a particular danger, or serious doubt as to the scientific evidence. We have a unanimous report from the best scientists and vets in the European Union available to the Commission and they have expressed their view that the British beef exported under the DBES scheme is as safe as any other beef in Europe. In those circumstances it is not appropriate to apply the precautionary principle."@en1
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