New EU rules ‘good news’ for goose producers

The 'lighter touch' regulations for small poultry producers could herald greater freedom from bureaucracy for the wider industry, according to the Food Standard Agency.

Under the new EU processing regulations taking effect in January the onus would be on them to ensure the production of safe food, members of the British Goose Producers Association were told by the FSA during their annual meeting at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire.

Adrian Dally, head of the FSA's white meat branch, said the regulations meant moving away from the very detailed prescriptive legislation to the principle of operator's liability.

The new approach, which has been championed by the UK in the face of conservatism from some of the EU's older member countries, represented 'a leap forward in getting bureaucrats off your backs', said Mr Dally.

"The regime will be renegotiated in five to ten years' time, but we see this as an opportunity — not a threat. We are confident that the regime will work and that there will be a good outcome for the consumer. Then there will be a good chance of negotiating to extend the scheme to the wider industry."

Under the new regime producers processing under 10,000 birds a year are exempt from the more onerous provisions facing larger producers, but are required to maintain HACCP food hygiene procedures, register with the local authority, comply with training requirements and follow rules on labelling and record keeping.

Good news is that from January 2006 goose producers can sell direct to the final consumer including mail and internet orders anywhere in the UK, this direct relationship qualifies as 'local'. Sales via shops, catering and markets are restricted to their own county and neighbouring counties except for two weeks before Christmas, Easter and Michaelmas when sales are allowed nationwide.

The meeting took place on the Royal Showground following a late change of venue as part of avian influenza precautions.