Strasbourg, 16/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - By 390 to 155 with 13 abstentions, the European Parliament approved on Wednesday the setting up of a Temporary Foot and Mouth Committee, following the decision taken on 12 December 2001 by the Conference of Presidents (see EUROPE of 19 December). The Temporary Committee will last for twelve months, at the end of which it will report to the Parliament. The plenary rejected an amendment tabled by British Labour MEP Phillip Whitehead calling for the Committee to exist for only six months. The Committee will be instructed to assess the EU's policy and controls of meat exports from third countries in the context of foot and mouth disease; the management of the outbreak and the application of EU law; invite Commission and Member States' government representatives and the relevant officials to the Committee's hearings; and the full impact of foot and mouth disease on Community coffers.