EU examines tougher biosecurity measures for food

The EU is moving closer to implementing measures to protect the food chain from a terrorist attack, by publishing a discussion paper on stepped up security measures that would affect manufacturers.

The measures could mean manufacturers would have to implement more stringent testing throughout the supply chain to check for any seeding of their products with biological contaminants such as antrax.

Current measures on traceability might also be stepped up, under the proposals.

"Some of these materials have the capacity to infect thousands of people, contaminate soil, buildings and transport assets, destroy agriculture and infect animal populations and eventually affect any food and feed at any stage in the food supply chain," the Commission stated in releasing the green paper last week.

Bio terrorism refers to the deliberate introduction of deadly pathogens into foods or food ingredients. The danger could also come from ingredients imported from a non-EU country.

The green paper covers the steps taken to minimise the threat of deliberate contamination of the food supply through biological agents.

Biosecurity in its food safety aspects focuses on setting standards regarding the safety of food, good manufacturing practices and quality control of agricultural products at all steps of the processing chain.

"The aim of bio-preparedness is not to duplicate the legal framework set up to ensure food and product safety, including emergency measures in cases of accidents or of new information about the safety of a specific product, but to complement this framework to improve security and the prevention of deliberate criminal acts, accidents as well as the response to naturally-occurring outbreaks," the Commission stated.

A public consultation on the proposals ends by October 2007. The discussion document is available: here.