Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-06-05-Speech-4-048"
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"en.20030605.2.4-048"2
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"Mr President, I wish to begin by thanking the rapporteur for his report – one aspect of which has a particular significance for my constituency in Wales – and, as other Members have covered most aspects of the report, I would like to focus on that particular issue.
The report covers animal products other than meat, including aquaculture. As we have had particular problems in Wales concerning the testing of cockles, this is very important for us at this time. The harvesting of cockles is a long-standing and much-valued industry in coastal areas of Wales, such as the Burry Inlet and the Welsh Dee. About 3 000 people are employed directly, mainly small businesses and self-employed people. However, for two years the major cockle fisheries in these areas have been closed, causing significant hardship and even bankruptcy. The cause of the closure was the discovery of unidentified toxins during testing, even though not a single case of illness has been reported.
Directive 2002/225/EC allows for either of two different test methods to be used to detect toxins, and the method used in the UK has been seriously questioned in recent months. As an earlier speaker mentioned, public and producer confidence is essential.
The main issue here, and the one relevant to this report, is that to date there is no standard toxicity test for bivalve safety within the EU. This has meant that during the period when the cockle beds have been closed in Wales, cockles from other EU countries, which have not been subject to the same tests, could be, and have been, imported into Wales and sold.
The purpose of this report is to improve controls under the food hygiene package, and our first priority is the health of the public. To do that we need very clear and detailed rules, but there must be a level playing field across Europe, and in this case that means a harmonised and more effective method of testing. This report will take us in that direction and it is very welcome."@en1
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