Listen
Foot and Mouth
26/09/2007
Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, visited Brussels today where he attended the Agriculture and Fisheries Council and met with Jonathan Shaw, DEFRA's Parliamentary Under Secretary of State.
Mr Lochhead was also in Brussels to put the case for a welfare disposal scheme for light lambs and for a swift resumption of export markets to the Commission.
Commenting on the outcome of his meetings with the Director General of the Heath and Consumer Protection Directorate General and the Deputy-Director General of the Agriculture Directorate General, Mr Lochhead said:
"Our meetings with the European Commission were extremely positive and helpful in taking forward our case for both a welfare scheme for the backlog of lambs for which there is no export market and a rapidly diminishing feed supply, and also the crucial issue of re-opening the valuable export market for Scottish meat products as soon as possible.
"Commission officials very helpfully identified the state aid exemption rules that would allow the UK to introduce a welfare disposal scheme for light lambs that had been destined for the export market. The Commission have indicated that they would be content to press ahead with processing the scheme as soon as they receive the details from the UK Government. It is very encouraging that the Commission indicated that, in principle, they had no objections to our proposals.
"After we have finalised the terms of our proposed welfare scheme, following consultation with the livestock sector and wider interests, the ball will then be firmly in the UK Government's court. We are intending to send our proposed scheme to UK Ministers as soon as possible and are seeking an immediate decision on funding. It remains the view of the Scottish Government and indeed the livestock sector, that the UK has not only the political but the moral responsibility to fund this vital scheme.
"We also had an extremely worthwhile and helpful meeting with the most senior officials dealing with the export ban that is currently in place and costing the Scottish industry dear.
"The Commission was most impressed by the presentation by Scotland's Chief Vet Charles Milne on our response to the foot and mouth outbreak in England. We supported the case for the largest area of Great Britain being exempt from the ban at the earliest opportunity and explained that we are working closely with the UK Government to achieve this outcome.
"Clearly, if it is not possible to secure a GB exemption, we have also made the case for a Scottish exemption and will work with Europe and the UK Government to ensure that our interests are promoted at all levels. I conveyed to the European Commission, the serious economic, social and animal welfare issues that have arisen as a result of foot and mouth and the subsequent export ban on meat products. The European Commission warmly welcomed their dialogue with Scotland and agreed to ensure that this was ongoing in the crucial days ahead. They also told us that our presentation was valuable evidence that they would take on board in the run up to the forthcoming decisions."
Mr Lochhead's meetings were with:
- DG SANCO - met with Robert Madelin, Director General for Health and Consumer Protection and Bernard Van-Goethem, Director of Animal Health and Welfare
- DG Agri - met with Mrs Loretta Dormal - Marino, Deputy Director General for Rural Development