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TTIP talks: What’s cooking?
- Perspectives on Food & Farming
Proceedings of the Conference
In the context of the TTIP,
we will respect our
regulatory regimes.
”
Michael Scannell, Food and
Veterinary Office (FVO)
Michael Scannell
,
(Director of the Food and Veterinary
Office - FVO)
explained that FVO audits member states
and third countries against standards and legislation.
FVO does not interpret legislation, whether it is
proportionate and based on science. The question
arising with TTIP is to what extent is there latitude in
this agreement to increase trade within the respective
regulatory regimes.
Examples were given within main commodity groups. For
example in the beef sector, the main obstacle is the EU
ban on hormones. On the assumption that legislation
remains in place, only hormone free beef will be allowed
to enter the EU market. There are small but growing
exports of hormone-free beef from the US. The main
barrier is related to traceability and animal identification
provisions in the US, specifically the absence of the
individual bovine identification.
In poultry the main obstacle for increasing US exports
are EU bans on the use of antimicrobial treatments
(AMTs). There are two opportunities in the current
regulatory regime. Firstly, the US could choose to export
poultry production that doesn’t use AMTs, however
this is not the route currently being used. The second
option within the current regulatory regime would be EU
approval of AMTs, and this is possible within the current
legislation. The challenge for the FVO in this case would
be to ensure that US producers are not using AMTs
to cover up poor hygiene in poultry processing plants
generally.
In the pig meat sector, the main barrier for export of
US products to the EU, is the use of ractopamine, a
feed additive to promote leanness in animals raised
for their meat. There is a total ban in the EU on using
ractopamine. Exporting pig meat requires ractopamine
free production lines. This is already being done
successfully in both the US and Canada. However,
there are other barriers relating to quality or consumer
preference for example, that would make it difficult for
the US to export to the EU.
In conclusion,
Michael Scannell
stressed
that it is important to recognise the
increasing trend of multinational
corporations (MNCs) operating in all major
economic zones. MNCs would like to have
one harmonized regulatory framework
, but
in the absence of this they locate where
their customers are and comply with local
regulations. It is also important to note
that trade does not take place in whole
carcasses, and this complicates trade for
operators because of different regulatory
frameworks.
Harmonizing rules and standards – a race to the bottom?