Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-02-05-Speech-2-276"
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"en.20020205.13.2-276"2
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"Madam President, I welcome the report as it raises many important issues as we work towards a comprehensive and a safe food policy in the EU.
Control of infectious diseases goes hand in hand with proper monitoring. Close consideration should be given to how infectious diseases are monitored by European Union institutions. We must likewise question the methods of countries outside the EU and impose stricter import controls like those carried out in Australia and New Zealand.
However, we must remember, if regulations are drawn up, that it is important to impose penalties on Member States which fail to implement EU legislation on feed and foodstuffs, otherwise regulations are not worth the paper they are written on.
I call on Members to let common sense prevail. Of course we need to test animals for BSE, but let us base the tests on sound scientific practices. There is no proof that testing animals at 24 months is foolproof. On the contrary, animals can develop BSE after 24 months. I have had no satisfactory answers as to what this calculation is based upon. The 30-month threshold currently imposed seems to be working. The forecasts are that the UK will be BSE-free by 2005, and this has been achieved using the 30-month threshold. Meat under 30 months can now be exported from the UK and it is true to say that it has proved to be a safe product for the consumer.
Another concern is the compulsory testing of sheep. Again I urge caution and call again on sound scientific evidence. The whole UK flock was nearly wiped out last year because of the discovery of BSE in sheep. However, luckily someone questioned the validity of the findings and it was then discovered that the test was actually carried out on a cow's brain after all. This episode did little to restore farmers' confidence in proper scientific research. We need to develop a comprehensive animal health strategy and ask ourselves what we have learned from BSE. The main thing, without a doubt, is not to tamper with nature on ethical grounds. Herbivores must not be made to eat meat or fishmeal. However, we must now concentrate on the future and work on a policy and strategy to undo the damage to the food chain.
Finally, the farming community has suffered a great blow over the past few years. Let us work together now towards a food safety policy and a reform of the common agricultural policy which moves us away from a so-called consumer-led policy that led to intensification – but let us not move either to a consumer-led policy based on unfounded theories. We must regain consumer confidence by producing a policy that will embrace all aspects."@en1
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