Rural Europe on the move English_E_version_all | Page 90

CHAPTER 7 Food Hygiene Regulations Hristo Kostovski is not alone in 86 blue mozzarellas, emerged from the industrial factory food system. Silence fell in the meeting room when Christian Jochum, from the having to deal with overly strict Austrian Chamber of Agriculture, legislation regarding hygiene and described how Austrian legislation consumer safety in food production, applied the European regulations particularly for processed products. with an innovative, flexible approach, The problem affects the whole aimed at guaranteeing consumer region, with tens of thousands of health through simple but effective producers relegated to the black procedures for the country’s 46,000- market, simply ignored or, worse, plus small-scale food producers. facing obstruction from the relevant The EU hygiene regulation gives authorities. The Terra Madre Balkans member states the power to interpret network has been campaigning the rules for specific local processing about this for years. Now, however, and marketing conditions, taking into the disproportionate investments account the shelf life of products for demanded of small-scale producers local marketing. Burcu Gezeroglu, a in order to legally remain on the young Turkish delegate, struggled to market have also become a problem believe it: “Our authorities don’t support in other EU countries, from Spain small-scale food producers, they act to Lithuania, and for almost all EU like police inspectors. They show up, candidates. This is deeply ironic, find examples of non-compliance, issue as big food scares of recent years, fines, sometimes close the business, from the horsemeat scandal to the and then go back behind their desks.” *