EU parliament 'fobbed off' over health scares

The European commission has been slated for 'failing to act' over recent food health scares.

It follows an admission by EU health commissioner Markos Kyprianou that he still has concerns about Brazilian beef and is not ruling out an import ban.

He was invited to address parliament's agriculture committee on Tuesday to discuss concerns over the standards adhered to on Brazilian farms, the recent spread of Bluetongue across Europe and the devastating foot and mouth outbreaks in southern England.

Committee chairman, UK Tory MEP Neil Parish, told the commissioner there was strong evidence of poor traceability and standards on a number of Brazilian farms and that the EU should take action to address the growing concerns of farmers in Britain and Ireland.

The Irish Farmers' Association - who carried out the original 'smoking gun' investigation into Brazilian farms - have received evidence from senior consultant veterinary surgeon, Dr Kevin Dodd, which describes the commission's assessment of the risks involved in the importation of Brazilian beef as "flawed and inadequate".

Following the meeting, Parish said, "The commissioner did not really get the point MEPs and farmers' organisations have been making - that Brazilian farmers are being allowed to get away with practices that would cause a European farm to be shut down.

"The commissioner has given Brazil until the end of the year to show significant improvements in traceability and quality control of their beef.

“But I fear the commission is still allowing politics to get in the way of what should be a simple decision made on the basis of safety and equity for European farmers.

"We are fed up with being fobbed off by the commission over this important matter. We need action sooner rather than later. I have invited the commissioner back at the end of the year to give us an update on the actions he intends to take."

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