Commission Stance Untenable
09 November 2007
Independent MEP Jim Allister has said the recently reported findings of an FVO inspection mission to Brazil makes the Commission stance on failing to ban Brazilian Beef imports untenable.
The MEP said,
“I believe the delay in the Commission publishing the findings of the FVO’s March inspection trip, until now, speaks volumes. The Commission ought to be concerned at the findings of this report, as persistent inadequacies point to very serious questions of food safety.”
“Many of the FVO recommendations from an earlier inspection visit in 2006 have yet to be fully implemented by the Brazilian authorities. I am alarmed, for example that a complete chain of traceability can not be verified from establishment of export back to the holding of origin. The Report also confirms inadequate border controls between States, which is something that was highlighted by the recent IFA Report on Brazil.”
“Failings in the efficacy of Brazil’s Food and Mouth vaccination programme continue. Furthermore, the Report finds evidence of non-compliance with pre-movement testing in animals moving from F&M restricted areas to EU-approved States within Brazil.”
“I believe the evidence before us confirms that question marks remaining over the production standards of Brazilian Beef are indeed well founded. Commissioner Kyprianou has been disingenuous in that regard.
In his reply to my letter, Kyprianou has stated that the Commission is ready to take further action as appropriate in the light of the outcome of the next FVO mission going out before the end of the year. I say, Mr Kyprianou –why wait?
ENDS
