Farmers and primary producers of food throughout Europe will soon be liable if their produce is found to be unsafe under new EU legislation, it was confirmed yesterday in Dublin.
Extending liability for defective food to its source on the farm is to be one of the main planks in the European Commission's effort to respond to widespread concern about food safety, according to the director of its food and veterinary office, Mr Peter Prendergast.
The effect of the proposal already adopted by the Commission and about to go before the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament is that a beef farmer could be sued for meat subsequently found to be unsafe or have caused a food poisoning epidemic.
He expected member-states would have to legislate for this within two years.
He told an international conference attended by 250 food safety specialists that such producers were not held liable in the past. The farmer/primary food producer would, if necessary, be put in the same category as a car manufacturer who is held liable for a defective product.
The ability to trace a steak fillet to the farm it had originated from would be technologically possible, Mr Prendergast said. The process would be reinforced by separate independent inspection and monitoring of food in all EU states.
The most important element in the new direction was "total transparency". "We will publish details of member-states not up to standard. This is the only way the public can assess risk for themselves."
Food safety demands do not represent a threat to Ireland but have the potential to give it a competitive advantage, said supermarket chain owner, Senator Feargal Quinn. "We have to do two things superbly: to produce food that is impeccable in quality, and then establish in people's minds full credibility for that positioning."
Ireland's new Food Safety Authority should take the bold step of appointing staff with no loyalty to Ireland but motivated by the interests of the customers of Europe. "It has to be seen to be independent of Ireland's national interest, if it has the necessary credibility overseas."
"If I was a food processor, health would be at the very centre of my strategic thinking. If I was a fast-food operator I would be thinking about developing `healthaware' fast-food."
