Grocer / JULIAN HUNTJULIAN
Uppsala conference identifies improved safety measures
Europe's farm ministers will face renewed pressure to start thinking about a radical reform of the EU common agricultural policy when they hold their informal meeting in Sweden next month. A report detailing the nature of the measures required to improve the food chain is being sent by Sweden's agriculture minister Margareta Winberg to her EU colleagues.
The report was drawn up at a major conference on food safety held in Uppsala as part of Sweden's presidency of the EU. And Winberg hopes the document -- which is critical of CAP -- will spark further debate on Europe's farm policies.
The Swedish minister, who chairs the European Farm Council, clearly feels CAP is unethical and unsustainable -- a view shared by a growing number EU states.
"More and more countries want some sort of change because they can see consumers are worried. They can see how consumption is falling. And they cap see how worried the farmers are with the situation," Winberg said.
The formal review of CAP and the Agenda 2000 reforms is not due to start until 2003.
However, Winberg believes the growing pressure for change means the debate about the future of CAP can begin next month in Ostersund.
She wanted the conference in Uppsala to identify the weak links in the food chain and offer practical advice on how they could be repaired.
The report does not directly blame intensive farming for Europe's problems with foot and mouth and BSE. Instead, the way in which farming practices are changed without proper testing is most heavily criticised. The report backs calls for better animal welfare and urges governments to increase efforts towards a safer, ethical and more sustainable food chain.
Copyright 2001 William Reed Ltd.:
