Brussels, 11/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - French Agriculture Minister Bruno Le Maire wrote to his German counterpart Ilse Aigner on Monday 11 July to protest against the ban imposed on French foie gras producers exhibiting at the Cologne Food Fair from 8 to 12 October. Le Maire is threatening not to attend the opening of the ANUGA food fair held in Cologne every two years.
The decision to ban companies exhibiting foie gras from taking part in the fair “would seem to have been taken as a result of pressure from NGOs who question whether animal welfare norms are being applied in the production of foie gras”, Le Maire says. France has asked Germany to make representation to the ANUGA organisers “so that they revoke this unacceptable decision”.
“It is important to the French foie gras sector that it appears at a fair that is visited by many buyers, at a time before the end of year celebrations. In any event, were it to be confirmed that this sector was not to be allowed to take part, I could not consider attending the opening”, Le Maire wrote to Aigner. He pointed out that France “rigorously applies all Community rules on animal welfare”. Produce which complies with these rules “should all be allowed to take part” in the fair, he added. He argued that “bans of this sort” on foie gras could, in future, be applied to “all meats”. (L.C./transl.rt)