Tory pig campaign launch
Tory pig campaign launch
A BAN on imports of pigmeat which does not meet British specifications is the main plank of the Conservative Partys Fair Deal for Pig Farmers campaign.
Shadow farm minister, Tim Yeo, told North Yorkshire, pig farmers at the launch of his campaign that pressure would be maintained to ban imports by invoking Article 36 of the Treaty of Rome. He said there was no reason why farm minister, Nick Brown, should not do so.
The government said it did not have the power to ban the sale of pork products which could not legally be produced in this country. But Article 36 permitted the prohibition or restriction of imports justified on the grounds of public morality, public policy or public security. Mr Yeo said the crisis facing the UK pig industry was getting worse by the week. If the government refused to take action then disaster beckoned, with the UK effectively exporting its pig industry across the North Sea to Denmark and Holland.CHECK
The Conservative campaign, which will be followed by one to assist UK sheep farmers, includes:
lThe introduction of EU labelling detailing rearing conditions.
lThe removal of unfair French and German subsidies.
lThe removal of BSE restrictions on pigmeat abattoirs.
Mr Yeo launched the initiative while visiting Simon Swiers 500 sow PIC multiplication unit at Farlington, near York. *