EWFC meets with members of European parliament

This is a report of the meeting held on March 16th 2010.

Present

Dr. Linda McAvan - MEP socialist coordinator on the Environment Committee and her assistant

Dr. Schnellhardt - MEP EEP coordinator on the Environment Committee and his assistant

Dr. Jill Evans - MEP Green Group coordinator on the Environment Committee and her assistant

Dr. Karin Kadenbach - deputy socialist coordinator on the Environment Committee and her assistant

Mette Kahlin - representative from BEUC (European Consumers Association)

Assistant to Mrs. Lulling Luxembourg (MEP)

Mrs. Françoise Mori representative of the Luxembourg permanent delegation.

On behalf of EWFC

Dr. Serge Losch - President

Jan van de Loo - Secretary General

Stephane Touzet - Vice President France

Angus Lowden MBE - Vice President Britain

Ron Spellman - Deputy Secretary General

The MEPs had already been sent and had studied a document analysing Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) reports on visits to slaughterhouses across the EU, undertaken since 2006.  This document can also be found on the EWFC website.

please find the EWFC analysis of the FVO reports here

Dr. Serge Losch gave a power point presentation.

Dr. Schnellhadt responded that The Commission states that there is no need to fundamentally change the current hygiene package.

We know, however, said Dr. Schnellhardt, that the member states would like changes to the requirements for the use, recruitment and training of PIAs. In the near future we must consider whether the current official controls are enough to protect consumers. Official controls, however, must continue.

Dr. McAvan (Socialist Group) stated:

Dr. Schnellhardt is more experienced in these matters than me; he was on the environment committee in 2004 when the hygiene package went through the parliamentary stage.

Dr. Evans (Green Group) stated:

I have read the EWFC analysis of the FVO reports and I agree the situation in some member’s states is very bad.  The Green group recognise that the resources designated for meat controls have been reduced across the EU and we regard the EWFC evidence as very powerful. 

A general discussion now ensued centred on the EWFC analysis of the FVO reports and the intentions of the Commission and member states council of ministers for changes in official controls in slaughterhouses.

At the end of this exchange of views the MEPs stated that they were aware of the issues concerning the independence of meat inspection and that they support the maintenance of the current legislation for red meat.