The UECBV, the European Union of Livestock and Meat Trade, and Anafric, a Spanish meat business association, have participated in the first ‘Seminar on regulation of agri-food products’ which was held on December 12 and 13 in Bogotá. These are two days to promote European standards for the production of agri-food products
The event has brought together European experts in food quality and safety policy, as well as representatives of the Colombian, Peruvian and Ecuadorian authorities, European associations, local importers and retailers to discuss quality and safety standards, including labeling, controls, organic products as well as the Denominations of Origin and Geographical Indications. The seminar has been organized in the context of the Trade Agreement between the European Union and Colombia, Peru and Ecuador.
Experts invited to teach the various subjects will explain the quality and safety mechanisms of the European Union in food and will discuss how to increase trade flows between the two regions. The seminar will be a foothold to establish a wide network of contacts with representatives of the agri-food sector.
Carolina Cucurella, an Anafric technique, has represented the association and the UECBV in this professional event, explains that “our presence has been aimed at explaining why consumers and authorities in Peru and Colombia can rely on European products, what is the legislative framework that sets the standards of production and marketing, as well as aspects of animal health, food safety, sustainability and environmental requirements”.
Quality and safe European meat
Specifically, the intervention of Anafric and UECBV through Carolina Cucurella has had the mission of highlighting that “European meat means safety and quality”, since livestock is constantly controlled by establishing traceability protocols in the life of the animal, in food, in meat, in fattening (not allowing the administration of hormones or other substances), in animal welfare and, of course, in its sustainability and in the surveillance and control of diseases such as PPA (African swine fever) .
The event has also served to call for improved European exports to Peru and Colombia, since “despite the fact that in 2017 the market for the entry of fresh pork was opened, tariffs around 20% make it difficult that we can compete with meat from the USA, the main importer, “explains Curcurella.
