Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2017-03-14-Speech-2-693-000"
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"en.20170314.36.2-693-000"2
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"Mr President, there are about 28 words in the full title of this proposal and the length is probably appropriate because agri-food chains have become longer and more complex, and as a result the EU is more and more exposed to new risks. Therefore we need improvements in the controls along the food chain, and I was pleased to see the Commission coming forward with proposals in this regard.
I welcome the hard work that has been done in the trilogues and I think the agreement provides for a simpler and more effective control system for food and food safety rules, veterinary and phytosanitary requirements, organic production and protected geographical indication rules. This agreement is important to ensure comprehensive scope and it encompasses the whole agri-food chain, which is vital for the safety of the food consumed by all EU citizens.
I am pleased that we have a provision for penalties against fraud and I welcome its inclusion. The horsemeat scandal of 2013 is something that must be avoided in future, with better controls and traceability provisions as well as punishments for infringers. The bigger the punishment, the greater the deterrent.
We know only too well the potential damage that can be caused for the entire agri-food industry of a Member State in the even of unwanted ingredients ending up in the final product as a result of lax controls, with the ensuing controversy upon their discovery. It is important to stop this early, and I believe that the current agreement will help to do so. It is also important that there is provision included to ensure that food business operators can have a quick follow-up inspection if they are found to be non-compliant. This is crucial, as companies must be able to act quickly, rectify the situation and get back to trading or production. A common-sense approach will help eliminate mistakes and hopefully ensure they are not repeated.
Ultimately, this is all about protecting our citizens and ensuring that consumers have confidence in the food they are buying and consuming, and that is the job we are trying to do."@en1
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