Allister debates new EU Animal Health Strategy
23 May 2008
During this week’s European Parliament debate on a new EU animal health strategy, Ulster MEP Jim Allister made a robust contribution:
“Firstly, I raised my concerns at the creation of a single legal framework for cost-sharing, without any reference by the Commission to funding requirements. Without an enhanced provision to pay for the new Animal Health Strategy, it seems likely that a heavier cost-sharing burden will be put on farmers. By utilising the traditional under-spend in the agriculture budget, this situation could have been avoided.”
“Secondly, I welcomed reference to providing assistance to farmers for purchasing new electronic ID equipment. I look forward to DARD utilising Rural Development funds to assist Northern Ireland farmers in this practical way in due course. Finally, I welcome the draft Strategy’s focus on the need to ensure higher EU standards on animal health and welfare are not put in jeopardy by imports from third countries. A holistic approach to animal health would surely recognise the recklessness of Commissioner Mandelson in pushing to secure a WTO deal at seemingly any cost, with scant regard to the future of our indigenous agri-food industry.”
ENDS
