Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:98 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his views on the import of Brazilian beef after an outbreak of foot and mouth disease there in recent weeks. [20174/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 6 July 2004
Ceisteanna (65)
Freagraí scríofa
The outbreak was reported on 17 June in the Monte Alegre District, Para, Brazil. The state is already precluded from exporting beef to the EU because it was not approved by the EU Commission. The outbreak is in an isolated area more than 700 km from the borders of the zone recognised by the World Animal Health Organisation and by the EU Commission as foot and mouth disease free with vaccination.
There are mechanisms at EU level for monitoring and controlling the risks associated with disease outbreaks in Brazil and other third countries. Commission safeguard decisions banning imports from particular countries or regions are considered by member states and the EU Commission at the standing committee for the food chain and animal health at which officials from my Department attend. Third countries or regions wishing to export products of animal origin to the EU must be approved for that purpose by the EU Commission.
The EU Commission did not propose additional measures to cope with the current outbreak. The Commission services are keeping the matter under review.
Detailed EU legislation lays down the conditions that member states must apply to the imports of products of animal origin from third countries. The harmonised legislation imposes a series of health and supervisory requirements designed to ensure that imported products meet standards at least equivalent to those required for production in, and trade between, member states and imports from third countries. Harmonised controls at the point of import to the EU ensure compliance with these rules.