27/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - During the Agriculture-Fisheries Council of 23 and 24 June, in Luxembourg, Michel Barnier, French Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, jointly presented with fourteen of his counterparts a memorandum on health safety and compliance with European norms and standards for farm and food products imported from third countries. Michel Barnier considers it is not a question of setting up “undue technical barriers” but that citizens expect imported products and European products to have the same level of health guarantees. Some 20 ministers backed this initiative. Michel Barnier hopes to pursue reflection during coming months, with a view to the conclusions of the Agriculture Council at the end of the year. (L.C./transl.jl)