EU vote puts UK meat producers at riskThe 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 EditorsFor 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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