There appears to have been a breach in the importing of produce containing growth-promoting antibiotics. The European Commission has since banned the use of the antibiotics; however, a loophole has found its way into the market as Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus says that the EU has failed to protect farmers and the health of citizens. He adds that “the commission missed the 28 January, 2022, deadline to ban these imports, meaning with these growth methods they can undercut our farmers.”
Concerns have been raised as he comments that the EU has now “compromised the health of European citizens”.
The growth-promoting antibiotics were banned from the EU over 15 years ago. MacManus says that he will be keeping a close eye on the situation as he will be in talks with other MEPs about the next steps if there’s not swift movement in resolving the issue.
EU farmers are currently operating under the highest standards in the world and he adds that they will challenge any system which allows their achievements to be undermined by products outside the union.
But the Commission says that new rules on the use of micro-organisms as active substances in plant protection products have since been implemented. The rules are set to provide EU farmers with additional options to substitute chemical products.
LSL News.