EU vote puts UK meat producers at risk
The National Office of Animal Health has condemned as "totally
unnecessary" today's Standing Committee decision on digestive enhancers.
In particular, the association was surprised at the UK vote in favour
of the proposal by Commissioner Franz Fischler, which will prevent EU livestock farmers
from using four scientifically approved digestive enhancers, permitted
elsewhere in the world.
"The UK government has, in the past, always stood up for
science," said NOAH director Roger Cook. "This decision, if it is carried
through by the Council of Ministers on 13 December, totally undermines the stringent
science-based licensing system and in particular the newly introduced EU system, under
which each product was due for imminent review".
Moreover, the token three month extension to the transition period to
remove these products could have catastrophic effects on the UK's pig and poultry
industry. "Swedish farmers are still coming to terms with the ban introduced over 10
years ago. UK farmers are suffering the worst crisis in living memory already: now we are
in danger of completely crippling the industry and denying British consumers home
produce," he added.
The Meat and Livestock Commission recently calculated that such a ban
would cost the UK pig industry £80 million.
Imports of meat produced outside the EU using these products will not
be banned. "It is ironic that consumers could be exposed to food from less safe
production systems, by a proposal made in the name of consumer safety," said Mr Cook.
2 December 1998
Notes for Editors
For further information contact Roger Cook or Alison
Glennon at NOAH, tel. +44 (0)181 367 3131
The National Office of Animal Health was formed on 1
January 1986 to represent the UK companies which research, develop, manufacture and market
licensed animal health products. The association now represents 53 companies which in 1997 accounted for around 95% of the
£379 million UK animal health market, with additional valuable exports.
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