Brussels, 07/04/2004 (Agence Europe) - In its adoption, last week in Strasbourg, of four reports by German Christian Democrat Horst Schnellhardt, the European Parliament pronounced itself at second reading on the legislative package concerning food hygiene from farm to table. This package brings together three new regulations and one directive, the aim of which is to make Community legislation more coherent, flexible and better adapted to changes in the market and science, and growing requirements in terms of food safety and consumer health. The amendments voted on by the Parliament, in particular various first reading amendments reintroduced into the regulation on the organisation of official checks on products of animal origin destined for human consumption, point towards a conciliation procedure between the Parliament and the Council. These amendments do not have the Commission's approval, and were not taken into account in the Council's common position.
The amendments concern principally: -definitions and requirements of competency as regards hunters placing game on the market; -control rules on production of poultry and lagomorph (e.g. rabbits) based meat, which the Parliament changed considerably; -the Parliament's wishes to make pork and fattened calf meat subject to conditions imposed so that abattoir staff can take part in official controls. By following its rapporteur, the Parliament is expressing the view that involving abattoir staff in official controls would be counter-productive, because "this would not help to improve food safety, not fulfil the requirements for independent checks". "Staff training will involve veterinary surgeons, and will hinder its control activities", said Mr Schnellhardt.