Commission must act to prevent food and mouth threat - Lyon

11.16.34am GMT Wed 25th Nov 2009

George Lyon, Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland, has warned the European Commission that it must do more to guarantee there is no risk of a further outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Europe.

Mr Lyon, Liberal Democrat European Spokesman on Agriculture, was speaking in response to today's statement in the European Parliament on meat imports from third countries by Health Commissioner, Androulla Vassiliou.

The statement follows a report earlier this year, based on inspections carried out in Brazil by the Food and Veterinary office which found that Brazilian meat export standards fell far short of EU requirements.

Commenting, Mr Lyon said:

"Brazil has made some improvements to the traceability of its meat, but it's still falling short of the safety standards that Scottish consumers should expect.

"Foot and mouth disease is still present in Brazil, and it is vital that the EU authorities insist Brazil fully implements the control measures that are necessary to prevent any threat of the disease spreading here.

"Taxpayers had to shell out £4 billion for the 2001 outbreak, and farmers were forced to slaughter and burn over ten million animals.

"It is unacceptable for the Commission to bury its head in the sand.

"It must carry out another inspection in Brazil as soon as possible, it must insist that the failures identified are rectified as soon as possible , and it must guarantee that Brazil and all other exporting countries measure up to EU standards.

"The apocalyptic scenes of 2001 must never be repeated. Farmers, taxpayers and consumers have a right to better protection than this."