09/06/2011
At the extraordinary Agriculture Council in Luxembourg on 7 June, ministers discussed compensation for vegetable farmers affected by the E. coli crisis and the ensuing drop in consumption. A preliminary sum of 150 million euros from the EU's agriculture budget was proposed by the Commission, but the final figure has yet to be agreed.
Sándor Fazekas, Hungary's Minister for Rural Development, emphasised that Europe needs farmers who produce top-quality healthy food. It is essential to restore consumer confidence and to decide on a swift solution for farmers who have found themselves in a difficult situation through no fault of their own.
John Dalli, Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, said that the information and advice communicated to the public and entered into the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed must be well substantiated and scientifically based. The current bans imposed by some non-EU countries are disproportionate as the outbreak is geographically limited to the region around Hamburg. He further declared that consumers have the right to feel confident about the food they eat and that any more loss of human life and further suffering must be avoided.
Dacian Cioloş, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, referred to the limited room for manoeuvre available as a result of budgetary restrictions and legal obligations that must be respected when granting financial aid. He warned against overcompensation. EU procedures could be finalised next week, after which member states could start collecting information on the estimated losses as a basis for compensation, which will be paid through national producer organisations and co-financed by the EU and the member states.
Concerning health and food safety issues, intensive investigations are continuing throughout the food chain to pinpoint the exact source of contamination of this particularly virulent strain of Escherichia coli bacteria that has been responsible for a number of deaths, mainly in Germany, and has led to the hospitalisation of many others.
At the moment, the outbreak – one of the largest recorded worldwide – is mainly affecting people in northern Germany and people who have visited the region since the beginning of May.
The symptoms of the infection, which can take a week to develop, include stomach pain and bloody diarrhoea. In the most serious cases it can lead to kidney failure and even death.
The strains in question are Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), which can be transmitted by contaminated food or water or by contact with farm animals. Transmission between people is also possible, which is why personal hygiene remains important.
After the first cases were reported on 22 May, the Commission activated all existing EU-wide networks to share information and to coordinate a response, including the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed and the Early Warning and Response System for communicable diseases.
A team of seven EU experts on food-borne diseases arrived in Germany on 5 June and are working in liaison with the German authorities to establish the exact cause of the outbreak.
More information:
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control website
E. coli outbreak in Germany (EUROPA portal – food safety)
European Food Safety Authority website
Council press release (Agriculture Council) (pdf)
Press conference webcast (Agriculture Council)