A LOOPHOLE that allows individuals entering the EU to import up to 1kg of meat and dairy products for personal use must be closed to reduce the risk of another foot and mouth crisis, warns local MEP Robert Goodwill.
Mr Goodwill, from Terrington, the Conservatives' spokesman on the EU's public health and consumer policy committee, urged European Food Safety Commissioner David Byrne to take action swiftly.
Speaking in Brussels, Mr Goodwill said: "We must not allow any amount of meat - no matter how small - to enter single market areas from parts of the world where foot and mouth and other diseases such as classical swine fever are commonplace.
"As part of a crackdown on meat imports, we must also focus on the illicit importation of so called "bush meat" from endangered African species which poses a significant safety risk as well.
"It is ironic that whilst France continues to ban British beef, the safest meat in the world, other meats can come into the EU from anywhere in the world posing an unacceptable risk to human and animal health."
Updated: 08:56 Thursday, September 19, 2002
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