22/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - European milk producers call for halt to TTIP negotiations. In a press release on 22 May, the European Milk Board (EMB) says it is following the EU-US trade negotiations with “great concern”, believing that the future TTIP agreement “is a severe threat to the EU - economically, ecologically and socially”. European milk producers therefore “call for the negotiations to cease immediately”. “Open season must not be declared on healthy, safe and sustainable food. And that is exactly what would be done if it were negotiated under the TTIP!” warns the EMB, fearing the relocation of a substantial part of agricultural production to outside the EU and the concentration of domestic production in only a few locations. The EMB also warns of the risks of unfair competition as a result of a lowering of product and safety standards. In addition, it fears that a large proportion of foodstuffs harmful to health would enter the European market. Lastly, the EMB criticises the lack of transparency in the negotiations. (EH)