A Northern MEP, who has campaigned strongly to protect local authority meat inspection services, says a vote in the European Parliament has dealt a major blow to plans which would have allowed large companies to carry out their own safety checks.
Yorkshire and Humber Euro MP David Bowe, who is Labour’s European spokesperson on the environment, played a leading role in persuading the Parliament to overturn proposals from the European Commission and he says the vote was an important victory for consumers’ rights and good hygiene standards.
He explained “I took up the issue after being contacted by union representatives of meat inspectors in the region alarmed not just because the Commission’s privatisation plans could have threatened jobs, but because of the very serious concerns that safety standards would inevitably be compromised.
“What the Commission wanted was to clear the way for large producers of red meat to inspect their own slaughterhouses—obviously running the risk that those carrying out the checks could come under serious pressure to take a ‘relaxed’ view over proper standards.
“After the tragedy of the BSE crisis, it is little wonder that this idea has been rejected and indeed many MEPs have been contacted by the families of BSE victims, all strongly opposing the privatisation proposals.
“The fact is that the meat inspectors working in the local authority services do a good job in protecting the public and their independence is the best possible guarantee of quality and protection of the public.”
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