Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-02-01-Speech-4-020"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20010201.3.4-020"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spoken text |
"Mr President, it is with some regret that I find myself participating again in a Parliament debate on BSE I regret that the initial steps taken by Commissioners Byrne and Fischler have not achieved their objective of controlling BSE and restoring consumer confidence in beef.
It is to say the least disappointing, that some Member States were prepared to conceal the real incidence of BSE in their national herds and equally unwilling to implement the control measures proposed by the Commission and agreed by this Parliament.
Their action or lack of action has led to an understandable but justified consumer resistance with beef consumption at one point dropping by 27%. Our now costly emergency plan to restore consumption and consumer confidence calls for 100% participation by each Member State. There is no place for dissidence at this critical time and those found in breach of the regulations should, in my view, be severely censured.
There were occasions in the past when farmers were found to be in breach of food regulations and deservedly condemned. On this occasion, however, they are by and large innocent victims of a situation beyond their control. They are the victims of animal-feed manufacturers who use meat and bone meal in bovine feed and there is some evidence, regrettably, to suggest that unscrupulous manufacturers have continued to use the product since the new regulations were introduced.
In my view we are now prepared to resort to extreme measures and I accept Commissioner Byrne’s view that in the present situation they are the minimum necessary. Be that as it may, the harsh reality is that farmers who are guarantors of food supply and quality are devastated, their incomes eliminated and the ethos of farming desecrated through the destruction of a prime food product."@en1
|
| lpv:spokenAs | |
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata |
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples