Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-05-02-Speech-3-181"
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"en.20010502.13.3-181"2
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"Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, BSE is the biggest tragedy ever to hit European veterinary, an unparalleled tragedy which will claim an unknown number of victims. BSE is a nightmare for the consumers who desperately question the safety of their food, and BSE has dealt cattle farming an enormous blow.
Today, we are discussing a package of measures which was announced back in 1997. This is therefore the appropriate time to thank rapporteur Mrs Roth-Behrendt: her perseverance, her expertise in this field were essential, and without her thoroughness, the Union would not be where it is today.
Thanks to Parliament’s input at first reading, the common position is, on the whole, acceptable: systematic test programmes, which will also apply to sheep in due course; strict and clear rules with regard to specific risk material; effective inspections especially on imports; and market access legislation. All of this is of crucial importance.
Today, we have to express our trust in the common position. This is the policy by means of which we can fight BSE. The measures must also be able to count on the commitment in Brussels and in the Member States. That is a deciding factor. After the increase in the number of BSE cases in France, fresh measures have repeatedly been put in place in recent months, and it was remarkable in this respect that Commissioner Byrne himself stated that food safety as such does not require new measures, but that the measures were particularly necessary to restore consumer confidence. With this statement, he was, in fact, vague once again. Measures are needed and are no luxury. Let there be no mistake about this.
Food safety is a very emotional topic and as such, food politics is now partly about the management of emotions. Statistically, we can say that food has never been so safe, but that does not convince anybody. You cannot restore confidence just like that, not even by encouraging organic farming, or by discouraging large-scale, industrial production methods. Confidence can be restored by means of a credible policy and clear language. Safety, prevention, control and eradication of BSE now require political commitment. The BSE crisis was much more than a very serious food problem; BSE ended up being a political crisis as well. It stands for passing the blame and dodging responsibility. In this way, BSE became the cause of a complete overhaul of European food policy. A European food authority is set up and we re-establish the principles of policy on foodstuffs.
But our discussion goes further than that, of course. We must now take a good look at food production. We want a green revolution, we want quality rather than quantity, our agricultural policy can no longer damage the environment, we must move away from protectionism which disadvantages third-world countries, and we must take animal welfare seriously. And we should not wait six years to achieve this. Today, we must express our commitment to the BSE policy, and that is, in my view, the go-ahead for a green revolution and for a policy that is based on quality."@en1
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