Brussels, 21/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - In order to protect animal health within the Community, all bovine fresh meat imports from Paraguay into the Union are to be banned until further notice. The Standing Committee for the Food Chain and Animal Health on Thursday approved a Commission proposal to this effect. A recent inspection carried out in Paraguay by the Commission's Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) convinced the Commission of the need for such a measure, given the serious failures found in animal health controls, in the performance of the competent authority and in the export certification system of beef for the EU.
Up until now, the EU only imported de-boned and maturated beef (guaranteeing destruction of the FMD virus) from regions of Paraguay where strict animal health control measures were in place.
In October 2002, Paraguay reported an FMD outbreak in an area not authorised for export to the EU and guaranteed that appropriate measures had been taken.
The inspection results cast doubt upon this.
In a press release, the Commission explains: "In light of the EU experience with FMD in 2001, the Commission deems it essential to send a strong message to Paraguay and indeed other countries to respect their commitments to put reinforced controls and safeguards in place".
The decision for the ban will be formally adopted in the next few days. It will be reviewed once the Paraguayan authorities are able to guarantee that the deficiencies have been dealt with.