10 February 2007 - EU laws on keeping factory farming waste out of the human food chain must be clarified in the light of this week’s bird ‘flu outbreak, Green MEP Caroline Lucas has warned.

“The European Commission must urgently clarify what laws are in place to ensure that waste products from intensive poultry farms – such as faeces, feathers, litter and body parts not fit for human consumption – are disposed of in ways that ensure they do not come into contact with animals or the environment.

“ We also need to be clear whether it is permissible to use poultry waste of any kind, including meat processing by-products, litter or other waste material resulting from poultry farming, in poultry feed?

“Clearly we must be able to prevent such waste products – which we know can carry and spread the H5N1 virus – from ending up in animal feeds, fertilisers or the environment – and I have asked the European Commission to clarify the current rules on this as a matter of urgency.”

There is an increasing body of evidence to suggest that intensive farming methods are instrumental in the mutation of the bird ‘flu virus and its ability to infect flocks quickly – and that the international trade in uncooked poultry products, live poultry and hatching eggs plays a key role in the virus’s spread across the globe, added Dr Lucas.

“Bird ‘flu poses a potentially deadly risk to human health. We need to know exactly what causes the virus – and how it spreads and mutates. Until we do, we must impose an immediate moratorium on the import and export of all live poultry products and hatching eggs.   It’s also clear that all uncooked poultry imports from infected countries should be banned - rather than banning imports just from infected regions of those countries. 

Finally, in the light of Professor David King’s statement this morning that we might be importing poultry from countries before we know they’re infected, we must urgently consider whether we need a moratorium on all international trade in uncooked poultry products.” 

The Green MEP is also demanding  that the Commission urgently investigates the scientific evidence that suggests intensive poultry farming is responsible for creating the breeding ground for highly pathogenic variants of avian influenza.

ENDS