Concerns over EU disease control move

THE European Union needs to ensure that its measures to control, monitor and eradicate animal diseases are consistent with trade policy, according to Ireland East Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness.

She said there is a real danger of an inconsistency of approach between how the EU seeks to control and monitor animal disease and its efforts to secure a deal at the WTO.

“Pushing through a deal at the WTO allowing for greater access to EU markets for food produced to lesser standards than those applying within the EU, could threaten our animal health, welfare and human health/food safety standards.

“Plans by the Commission to upgrade computerised monitoring and control systems for animal diseases, though welcome, would not be sufficient to deal with the issue,” she said.

Ms McGuinness warned that computers will not stop the spread of serious animal diseases.

She said she has grave reservations about one of the measures being proposed as part of an overall review of veterinary expenditure in the EU — the introduction of an insurance/cost sharing scheme, where farmers would take out insurance against disease outbreaks.

“Such a possibility must be carefully examined. If the real driver behind this initiative is budgetary pressure in the EU, then it must be resisted.

“We must only change the current regime of EU co-financing of animal disease programmes, if we find a better more effective alternative,” she said.

“I am concerned that discussions on this matter will be driven by costs not considerations of animal health, welfare and human health/food safety issue,” she said.