EU Addresses Potential of Bioterrorism on Food Chain
LUXEMBOURG - EU Food Safety Commissioner David Byrne announced on Tuesday that the European Union needs an "urgent review" of its defense plan against potential bioterrorism attacks on the food chain, Reuters reports.
Byrne referred to the challenges already experienced from foot-and-mouth disease and swine fever. "Food production and distribution systems have shown their potential vulnerability to potential attack. We cannot ignore these warning signs," Byrne said.
"It is not designed to be alarmist. But we cannot escape the reality that our systems of food and agricultural production could be vulnerable to bioterrorism," he said.
Byrne said he had already discussed the bioterrorism issue with most health ministers in the EU, held talks with US Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman and visited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia.
Byrne referred to the challenges already experienced from foot-and-mouth disease and swine fever. "Food production and distribution systems have shown their potential vulnerability to potential attack. We cannot ignore these warning signs," Byrne said.
"It is not designed to be alarmist. But we cannot escape the reality that our systems of food and agricultural production could be vulnerable to bioterrorism," he said.
Byrne said he had already discussed the bioterrorism issue with most health ministers in the EU, held talks with US Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman and visited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia.