Some countries may resist proposal for union-wide safeguards

MOVE TO PROTECT CONSUMERS IN EU FROM DANGEROUS FOODS

By Caroline Southey

Mr Franz Fischler, the European agriculture Commissioner, will today propose setting up a body with far-reaching powers to protect consumers in the European Union from dangerousfoods, such as beef from cattle infected with BSE, or mad cow disease.

His plan seems certain to provoke renewed confrontation with EU member states determined to preserve their national authority over such a politically sensitive area. Some countries, particularly the UK, will fiercely resist any moves to cede power to a Brussels-based body".

Mr Fischler, who will present the scheme immediately before today's EU farm ministers' council in Brussels, is convinced the present system does not provide adequate health protection.

"National perspectives are playing an undesirable role in community decision-making", he told members of the European Parliament recently.

The agriculture commissioner is expected to call for sanctions against EU countries which fail to protect consumers and for reforms to ensure the independence of scientists charged with making decisions on dangerous, or potentially dangerous, diseases.

The independent agency he is proposing would be less powerful than the US Food and Drugs Administration, which has sweeping authority to control the distribution of suspect foodstuffs and impose sanctions. However, Mr Fischler believes the FDA commands public respect because it is perceived to be politically independent.

He is expected to call for curbs on the powers of EU member states and the EU's standing veterinary committee, which consists of national experts and advises on food safety measures. Mr Fischler has previously questioned whether the cimmittee is sufficiently independent of national interests and lobby groups.

Instead, he will argue that a new system of appointments should be established to ensure the independence of scientists and vets charged with advising the EU on food and health issues.

Mr Fischler's announcement comes as the European parliament wraps up its inquiry into the management of the crisis sparked by BSE. The inquiry's final report, due out early next year, is expected to find that the crisis was mismanaged by national governments and the European Commission.

The inquiry has uncovered a catalogue of poor decisions and oversights by officials charged with containing the BSE crisis. The most damaging accusation has been that Commission and member state officials placed greater emphasis on protecting the beef market than protecting consumers.

Ms Emma Bonino, connsumer affairs commissioner, told the inquiry last week that decisions on BSE had been driven by agricultural interests. "The parket is made up of producers and consumers; Producers currently have far more power. Balance must be restored", she said.