Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-02-10-Speech-2-302"
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"en.20040210.11.2-302"2
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"Mr President, Commissioner, I was among those Members who wanted a debate to be held on this issue, given the alarm that had spread among the public. Immediately after Christmas and New Year, a number of articles appeared in the French media, mentioning probable dangers. An announcement was actually made but was not actively followed up, which left consumers with unanswered questions.
I remember some years ago, at least five, possibly six years ago, talking with someone who worked with Mr Fischler at the Commission, who told me, when we were in the midst of the BSE crisis, that the second food crisis to hit Europe would be in farmed salmon. Those words stayed with me and this is why I was keen for a debate to take place on the matter.
He was certainly exaggerating somewhat – I hope so anyway – and what the Commissioner has just told us would appear to bear this out. Nonetheless, I feel that it was important for us to be able to pass on some answers to our fellow citizens so that they know what they have to do.
When we established the European Food Authority, we emphasised how important it was that communication should be commensurate with the level of risk. In this regard, when the press articles appeared at the end of 2003, I would have liked the Commission to offer us an immediate response, rather than – somewhat regrettably – waiting until mid-February, when Parliament requested the information.
With problems of this nature, it is wrong to focus on the difficulties faced by one economic sector or another. I put myself in the place of the salmon farmers and of the regions that are – or could have been – affected by information of this kind. Such a situation has economic knock-on effects and we are duty bound to bear this in mind. Our overriding concern, however, is food safety for our fellow citizens. I therefore believe that it is our duty, and this is especially important, to ensure transparency at all times and to communicate answers at the appropriate moment, so as to avoid a vacuum of information that may increase people’s concerns.
Even so, Commissioner, you tell us that the quality of salmon leaves something to be desired, yet you affirm elsewhere that what could be detected as doses of dioxin was below maximum levels set by the EU, and we are all relieved at that. What I should personally like to request from you is not only that controls be implemented, but also that decisions be taken in order to ensure that farmed fish is better monitored and, more importantly, that it reaches appropriate sanitary levels.
This is what I wanted to say, Commissioner, and what we expect from you is that controls should be put in place and swiftly followed by action, so as to offer complete reassurance to European consumers."@en1
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