Archive Article: 2002/05/17
uTHE Irish government is demanding repayment of area aid from about 1000 farmers who claimed EU subsidies on ineligible land in 2001. The errors emerged after an internal audit earlier this year. Another 4000 farmers, who were sent warning letters in February, are being allowed to keep their aid money having been able to substantiate their claims.
uBRUSSELS has approved a new k30m (£19m) food aid programme for Afghanistan to help fight hunger in the region. As well as supplying food, the programme includes seed, fertiliser and tools to help local farmers get their own production up and running again.
uEURO-MPs have given strong support to EU plans to tighten up on meat hygiene rules, and called for even tougher controls on the production, sale and importation of animal products for human consumption. In particular, they are demanding better traceability and they want food processors who break hygiene rules to be publicly named and shamed.
uFRANCE has another new agriculture minister after the presidential election victory of Jacques Chirac two weeks ago. Herve Gaymard, a former civil servant, has been provisionally appointed pending parliamentary elections in June.
uEU vets have banned exports of live pigs and porcine semen, ova and embryos from areas bordering France, Germany and Luxembourg until June 30, after recent outbreaks of classical swine fever. *