Archive Article: 2001/05/18
• EU farm commissioner, Franz Fischler, travelled to the US this week, for his first meeting with the new Bush administration. Ahead of his trip, which includes a meeting with new US agriculture secretary, Ann Veneman, he said the two sides had much in common. But, while EU farm spending was fixed, US deficiency payments were rising.
• IRELAND has announced a crackdown on ewe premium fraud, after the discovery of "unacceptable irregularities" in Co Louth, where the countrys one foot-and-mouth outbreak occurred. Inspections are being stepped up and cross checks made with cattle schemes and slaughter data. No money will be paid until all checks are complete.
• FOOD safety and environmental protection top the list of concerns, an EU survey of farmers and consumers has revealed. Rural development, protection of farm incomes and competitiveness were also deemed important. Some 46% of the public favoured more support for small farmers, while a majority felt enlargement would be bad for Europe.
FARM ministers from Austria, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Norway and Sweden have signed a declaration on organic farming, designed to give the sector a boost. Meeting in Copenhagen, they called for an EU action plan to develop the market, and solve problems relating to environmental protection and animal welfare. *