EU Agriculture Ministers, meeting on Tuesday 18 December in Brussels, reviewed the measures taken to learn from the fipronil-contaminated egg scandal.
France presented a memorandum on the subject with new actions “to further strengthen trade between Member States, responsiveness and traceability”. France has proposed the creation of a European investigation and control force to better combat food fraud.
The European Commissioner for Health, Vytenis Andriukaitis, recalled the measures that had been decided after the 2017 crisis (EU-wide risk management, liaison officers...) and considered that the incident of fipronil contamination was over.
The Netherlands listed measures taken to improve the fight against food fraud, as did Belgium, for whom “communication and coordination must be optimal". Hungary does not want an additional European authority, but insists on strengthening procedures at the national level.
Italy spoke of a strengthening of Community standards to combat food fraud and improve traceability and knowledge of the origin of products.
Germany said it would study the French proposals.
To read the Commission's note: https://bit.ly/2LoEfY5. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)