IFA questions WTO food objectives

THE spread of avian flu and the potential risk of a flu pandemic, coupled with recurring outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in Brazil, raise serious question marks regarding the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) objectives to globalise food production, the IFA has warned.

Animal Health Committee chairperson Michael Flynn said the globalisation of food production ignores issues surrounding biosecurity. This ultimately will have implications for human health.

He said Europe and Ireland lead the way on full traceability in food production, but the same could not be said about non-EU food production. The EU must re-examine its stance in the upcoming WTO negotiations.