Brussels, 19/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - The last Agriculture Council of the year opened, this Tuesday, with a public debate on food safety. All the Ministers insisted on the importance of the future European food authority, but also on the implementation of a policy that guarantees the proper traceability of products as well as the implementation of the precautionary principal. Summarising this decision, the President Jean Glavany underlined that all the Ministers recognised that "the Community measures are still preferable". As assessment of the risks that are high-level, transparent and independent are indispensable", he said when feeling that the Member States and the Commission could thus base themselves on the assessment provided by the future authority to take measures that are required in the framework if the prevention or management of crisis'.
Following the debate, the Council approved its common position over the fight against transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). The meeting continued into the night with the discussion over the solidarity funds for pig farmers.