Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-03-30-Speech-2-029"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2004-03-30"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Food hygiene2
dcterms:Language	"en"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20040330.2.2-029"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2004-03-30-Speech-2-0302
lpv:speaker	lp:Catherine Stihler2
lpv:spoken text	"Mr President, I would like to concentrate on the threat posed by the Commission's proposals in terms of the privatisation of the independent meat inspectorate in the United Kingdom. This issue has been raised, not only by the Consumers' Association, but also by the UK trade union Unison, which represents meat inspectors. The feeling is that the Commission's proposal would allow privatisation through the back door by placing the responsibility for hygiene in abattoirs on the meat plants themselves. Therefore the independence of meat inspectors would be compromised, as those paying their wages would then be the companies they are in charge of inspecting. Consumer protection should be our Number One priority and no consumer should be put at risk of consuming unsafe meat. Just last week we saw the issue of chicken on sale which, according to the Consumers' Association, had incorrect sell-by dates on the packets. On top of this we have the backdrop of BSE, the tragedy of foot-and-mouth, and E.coli scares. In fact, the situation that happened many years ago to which Mr Bowe referred involved the butchers my family used in Wishaw in Scotland. There has never been such a need to reassure consumers that the meat they are consuming is safe to eat. It is in the interest of the consumer, but it should also be in the interest of the industry. When visiting a meat plant some months ago I was reassured that the quality of meat was of the highest standard and that the meat inspectors played an important role in securing quality and safety. We should not put at risk the independence of the meat inspectorate. There are 1200 independent meat inspectors in the United Kingdom and I hope they will be able to continue the work that reassures us as consumers that the meat we eat is safe."@en1
lpv:spokenAs	unknown; Labour Party (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 member; Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 member; PES (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 member; Delegation to the EU-Hungary Joint Parliamentary Committee (2002-02-06--2004-04-30)3 member; PECH (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3
lpv:unclassifiedMetadata	"Stihler (PSE )."1

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