Ulster Unionist MEP, Jim Nicholson, urged the European Parliament to support the Commission's pigmeat inspection proposals after the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety voted to oppose them yesterday.
The European Commission has drafted changes to the inspection of pigmeat which requires an initial visual inspection of the pig carcass before any further steps are taken.
The Committee voted 62 to 18 in favour of adopting a motion for resolution that opposes these new proposals. A Plenary vote on the future of the proposals will take place in October.
Speaking after the vote, Jim said:
"Pigmeat inspections that involve incisions may seem more thorough at face value, yet a study by the UK Food Standards Agency demonstrated that the risk of contamination from infected carcasses was significantly lower in visual-only inspections.
"The Commission's proposals are thus eminently sensible, increasing the prevention of health hazards to consumers, so I am disappointed with the outcome of the Committee's vote today.
"As farmers in Northern Ireland will be keenly aware, consumer confidence is at an all-time low following the horsemeat scandal earlier this year. Any steps the EU can take into enhancing food safety and increasing consumer confidence should be encouraged.
"I would therefore urge my colleagues in the European Parliament to vote for the Commission’s proposal in October, and ensure pigmeat inspections are conducted in a much safer way.