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July 15, 2008 |
| European Union Rejects U.S. Poultry Resolution |
| Applies to chlorine-treated poultry |
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The European Parliament said chlorine-treated poultry from the United States is "out of step" with European ideals. |
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The European Parliament rejected a proposal to allow imports of chlorine-treated poultry from the United States. Stating that such imports would be "out of step" with European ideals, the Parliament voted 526 to 27 to pass a resolution against the proposal.
"It would be likely to undermine European consumer confidence in foodstuffs sold within the European Union, which remains fragile following the food safety problems that have arisen . over recent years," the resolution states.
The plan, which was developed by the European Commission (E.C.), the executive branch of the European Union, calls for allowing chlorine-treated poultry meat from the United States-banned from the European Union (E.U.) since 1997-for two years while studies are done to determine the effects, if any, of using chlorine. The poultry would have to be labeled to make consumers aware of the processing methods.
The E.C. proposal would also allow the use of four antimicrobials in treating the poultry: chlorine dioxide, acidified sodium chlorite, trisodium phosphate, and peroxyacids, says Alling Yancy, PhD, vice president of food safety and production programs at the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association.
Toby Moore, vice president of communications for the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC), says his organization joined with the National Turkey Federation and the National Chicken Council to draft a joint statement criticizing the E.U.'s opposition to the importation of U.S. poultry into the European Union.
"It is unfortunate the two sides have been unable to resolve these technical issues that have kept U.S. poultry out of the E.U. for the last 11 years," says Jim Sumner, president of the USAPEEC, in that joint statement.
European Parliament members said they want to be consulted and informed by the E.C. before any further decisions are made prior to a meeting planned for October. |
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