Allister comments on FSA actions on milk
09 February 2009
"The FSA response to prevent milk from 2 dairy farms from entering the food chain, as a result of dioxin levels being over the legal limit, while stressing the very low risk to consumer safety, is a measured one. While I can only speculate about the source of the dioxin contamination in this particular instance, this week in Strasbourg I highlighted the true cost to the Northern Ireland agri-food industry of the dioxin crisis to date".
"As a result of major failings on the part of the Irish Government to effectively maintain an adequate regime of inspection concerning Millstream Recycling, which would have prevented the dioxin crisis from happening in the first place, Northern Ireland’s pork, beef -and now dairy industry has lost millions of pounds in trade".
Responding to the lively debate in the European Parliament this week, EU Health Commissioner Vassiliou conceded that the Republic of Ireland’s negligence has contributed to this crisis by saying:
"A prudent Member State should have taken more stringent control measures."
ENDS
