Press release, 8 December 2014
On 8 December, the Committee on Rural Affairs of the Seimas headed by Bronius Pauža, Deputy Chair, held a meeting with Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety. Jonas Milius, Director of the State Food and Veterinary Service (SFVS), informed that, despite all the measures taken, swine fever still remained a threat as a result of the actions of the neighbouring countries. According to the SFVS, infected pigs in Belarus were not destructed, but rather processed into food products, which spread in Lithuania was practically impossible to stop.
The members of the Committee pointed out that the only real way to combat the disease was to develop a vaccine. Joint scientific efforts both in the European Union and in Russia, Belarus and Canada were needed to find the means to overcome the disease. Until this was done, Lithuania would still have a challenging task of protecting the European Union from the spread of that infection.
Mr Andriukaitis promised to talk about the possibilities of vaccine development with the commissioner for research, science and innovation and to make every effort to ensure that tangible results were achieved in that area.
While discussing the consequences of the Russian embargo on foodstuffs, the meeting focused on the problems of searching for new markets. It also raised the idea that the negotiations on the markets in third countries could be conducted by the European Union on behalf of all its members rather than by each country individually.
Finally, the meeting touched upon the issues of child nutrition, particularly the option of direct supply of food by farmers. That could benefit both: farmers finding it easier to sell their production and children receiving healthy and fresh food. Mr Andriukaitis agreed with the opinion of the Committee that the question should be addressed at the EU level as well.
Gabija Jurgelytė, Adviser to the Office of the Committee on Rural Affairs, tel. +370 5 239 6951, e-mail: [email protected]
