THE GREEK authorities and the Cyprus Veterinary Service exchanged barbs yesterday over the confiscation of a second shipment of Cypriot meat products at Piraeus port. Piraeus Prefect Yiannis Michas accused the Vet Services of committing mistake after mistake and warned that the EU would have to be informed of the alleged violation.
Nearly 25 tonnes of frozen pork products were seized at Piraeus port on Monday by the Greek authorities after being deemed unsuitable for human consumption. Piraeus port authorities claimed the meat came from pigs that were slaughtered during a period when exports were forbidden due to the foot and mouth crisis in Cyprus.
The Greeks maintain there was an explicit decision from the EU that meat products from Cyprus dated after September 15 and up to December 15 were prohibited. The Vet Services begged to differ. Michas told state radio yesterday that the batch confiscated on Monday was slaughtered between December 1 and 11 and that the Cypriots were wrong in their assessment. The confiscated meat will now be destroyed.
This is the second shipment of 24 tonnes to be confiscated by the Greek authorities for the same reason. Both shipments were sent by the same businessman.
The Veterinary Services made an announcement yesterday claiming that the frozen meat had undergone all the necessary checks before being exported. It added that the export of the meat was in accordance with a decision by the European Commission.
According to the Service, on December 3, 2007, all EU member states agreed to amend the decision to make its implementation retroactive, thereby allowing the export of pork meat as long as it originated from outside the 10km surveillance zone.
The announcement added that the heads and entrails of pigs within the surveillance zone continued to be destroyed on site, so any such pork products being exported had to come from outside the zone.
The Vet Services added they hoped to get in contact with their Greek counterparts “to clarify the issue that was needlessly raised”.
Michas had a different view. “On the basis of the EU decision, exports are allowed after December 15 from certain areas of Cyprus. I have the certificates which show slaughter dates that are forbidden for export.”
Asked to comment on the retroactive claim of the Cypriot authorities, he said: “I cannot get into conflict with the vet services of any country.
“I can tell you that the Vet Services of Piraeus checked all the details of the producer, decided [the meat[ cannot be imported and had it confiscated.
“From thereon in, if any business person or the Cyprus Vet Services have any reservations, let them resort to Greek justice or where ever they feel like. We continue to believe that they continue to make a mistake and are trying to fix their mistake with another one. The products will be destroyed and we have an obligation to inform EU,” he added.
