en | it |    Press releases03.06.2008

Chicken imports: EU Commission must not overturn import ban on chlorine-rinsed chicken

Commenting on yesterday's vote in the Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH), which recommended to uphold a ban on the imports of poultry rinsed with chemicals, Monica Frassoni, Co-President of the Greens/EFA group in the European parliament today said:

"The Greens welcome the result of yesterday's vote inthe Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health, in which an unprecedented 26 out of 27 member statessupported a ban on the import of poultry rinsed with chemicals - only the UK abstained. Member states made this decision in tune with the opinion of European consumers, who don't want to bow to American commercial pressure and sacrifice their food production standards and rules.

We call upon the Commission to immediately drop all plans to re-allow imports of poultry rinsed with chemicals. The chlorination of chicken intended for human consumption is not acceptable for the EU and will not find a majority in Council or in Parliament. Such a decision would set an unwelcome precedent that the Commission is ready to lower European Standards on food security, hygiene and environment just to please the Americans. Europe must stand firm on the demand that nations wishing to trade with the EU will have to accept European standards."