Seanad debates

Thursday, 11 December 2003

Address by Ms Avril Doyle, MEP.

 

On the issue of food standards and the law, there is a new European food safety authority. A significant amount of legislation is being spawned by that authority. I cannot agree that the standards in France and Spain are better or worse than in Ireland. Some of the best food in the world is in Brussels and on the European continent. One can go into any restaurant in any country occasionally and the hygiene standards will be well below par. A new food and feed control directive is coming down the track – I was the rapporteur for the agricultural committee – which will make common legal standards of inspection on food and feed control, literally from the farmer to the plate in the restaurant. At present there are different levels of enforcement. The law is the same but some countries are more rigorous in enforcing it in particular areas. That is the reason it may appear there are different standards.

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