European Parliament
Coli outbreak that affects Germany. In Spain there has been no case of infection by this bacterium. Has it identified the companies involved? It’s two companies Spanish producers of cucumbers and a Dutch who might be implicated in the e. Coli outbreak. Network alert community food (RASFF) has communicated this fact to the Spanish Agency for food safety and nutrition which, in turn, has become known to the Junta de Andalucia, where these companies lie. Given this fact, the Board has already initiated proceedings with the undertakings concerned and appropriate measures have been taken to not to commercialize the involved batches of the product. The Ministry of health has stressed that although cucumbers are of Spanish production, it is necessary further research in order to find out throughout the entire chain in which phase has produced bacterial contamination. How it affects to Spanish exports? At the moment, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Russia and the Czech Republic have already withdrawn Spanish vegetables in their respective markets, with all the losses that this means for Spanish exports in this sector in Europe.
The Spanish fruit and vegetable sector predicts that the health alert caused in Germany can cause damage billionaires and cascading in this market, which made exports amounting to around 200 million euros a week. On the other hand, the State Secretary of Rural Environment and water, Josep Puxeu, claimed Sunday that the confusing information, assumptions, suggestions and from speculations of Germany have already caused great damage to agriculture and agri-food Spanish, which exports each year more than 10 billion euros in turnover. Spain is the top exporter of cucumber to the country German, with 450 million kilograms per year. That is why representatives of Asaja, COAG, UPA, agri-food cooperatives and Fepex consider that the German authorities should be rectified to restore the confidence of foreign markets and offset Spanish producers for damage caused. What is the Protocol to be followed before an alert food? Legislation adopted by the EU on food safety imposes on economic operators the general obligation to market only food that is safe.
According to article 50 of the Regulation (EC) 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002, the alert food surge in those circumstances where there is a risk to life or health. The basic principle of acting in the case that there is scientific uncertainty is prevention. Therefore this document sees the networking of laboratories of quality, at regional and/or interregional level, essential to perform continuous monitoring of food security when it comes to prevention of potential risks to the health of citizens. The food traceability system is fundamental for concer the origin of the food that is marketed. Hence other mechanisms that enhance food safety is through a comprehensive system of traceability within food companies so that, in the case of an alert as a from the cucumbers, you can proceed to withdraw this product in specific and precise amounts, or to inform a consumers or to officials responsible for the scrutiny.
