Turning up the heat on food safety Next week a goat farmer with a handlebar moustache will tell a French court why he became a 'food commando'. But three weeks in prison, his handlebar moustache and a penchant for talking to television cameras soon made him a folk hero.
Riot police face a feathery sea during a price protest in Paris by Brittany farmers.
There is a record number of applications for press accreditation. Speaking to the National Assembly on May 9th, Prime Minister Jospin cited public health and consumer protection first among the issues that could bring Europe closer to its citizens. Despite their own less than brilliant record, French officials see themselves as leaders in food safety and claim they originated the idea of a European Food Authority. Plans for the EFA were, in fact, outlined by the Irish EU Commissioner, Mr David Byrne, in a January 2000 white paper. Mr Byrne hopes that, by drafting scientists from national food authorities to the EFA, conflicts between Brussels and EU member states over food safety can be avoided.