A year ago, this country was invited to analyse the pros and cons of EU membership and state its opinion in a democratic referendum. The Maltese people had to swallow tonnes of information in a relatively short period of time? Yet, the overall gist was taken in? Hence the official results of the said referendum and subsequent general election.

Thus, it is now in the people’s interest to see that what has been taught and instilled is effectively carried out. In fact, we have been witnessing all sorts of new taxes, new reductions in workers’ benefits etc. All is well and good as long as these are being implemented in the name of the country’s and, hence, in the people’s long-term health conditions and economic survival.

But then, the same minister who is telling us to destroy plastic before it destroys us, the same minister who is responsible for our environment, the same minister who has rural affairs within his portfolio, is totally lacking in implementing very simple regulatory moves to protect the consumer’s health where its daily food is concerned.

In particular, we point out the situation in the local poultry industry. Since it would take volumes to expand on each matter in detail, we raise hereunder a number of facts and questions which we believe should be brought to the attention of the general public – the same general public that has been told to vote for EU membership because only in this way, it could insist on improved quality of life.

1. It is positive to note the various adverts popping up from time to time promoting the local fresh tomatoes and tomato products, the local fresh pork, the local wines etc. The backing of the Rural Affairs and Environment Ministry (MRAE) is commended. Yet, how is it that no one ever promotes the locally-produced fresh chicken? Isn’t this a form of discrimination disallowed by the EU?

2. Linked to the above is the fact that unlike other EU countries, the Maltese government does not only discriminate in promoting the local produce but it chose to award the contract for the supply of chicken for its hospitals to an importer from Brazil. It would have been understandable had the local industry been placed on an equal footing to compete but things happen the other way round in Malta. The same government that is earning to work for the improved efficiency and competitiveness of the local industries – hence, acknowledging the fact that we are not yet there – could not care less.

3. Apart from the factors which affect the Maltese industry in general, the poultry industry faces other matters which stall its efficiency further. Being made up of food establishments, strict regulatory controls are now in place. This is all in favour of the Maltese consumer who is guaranteed an EU standard top quality fresh product daily. Yet, is the consumer informed what to look for in a product to ensure that he/she is getting what was promised? Does the consumer know that the approved chicken cuts are to be in transparent packing (LN 258/04; CHAPTER XIV; 71), with a traceability number (batch code) and the official health mark? The answers to these questions tend more toward the negative than the positive. There has been no educational campaign in this respect.

4. Furthermore, does the Maltese consumer know that not all the poultry plants in Malta have been EU approved, notwithstanding the fact that the Veterinary Division of the MRAE had imposed a deadline up to 31 December 2004? Is the consumer aware that the MRAE is tolerating non-approved and, therefore, illegal plants, to slaughter, pack, market and distribute their products on the market?

Does the ministry realise that one single case of “food poisoning” would give the whole industry a bad name to the detriment of those establishments which have been approved because they have invested in quality? Isn’t this unfair competition allowed by the same administration that is trying to revive the local economy?

5 There is the promise of safeguarding the agro-industries in Malta made by the then Prime Minister Edward Fenech Adami. Surely, the MRAE is safeguarding the pork industry because the slaughterhouse is still government owned. Well done! But does this mean that any private entrepreneur cannot be backed up by the same government? Aren’t the chicken producers part of the Maltese agriculture too?

Their heating costs have increased drastically with the increase in price of kerosene, the cost of the chick is increasing because hatching eggs are more expensive from Europe. Their selling prices cannot increase because the slaughtering plants would then be worse off to compete. Can the MRAE please explain to the Maltese people what safeguards there are (if any alt all) and how these will be implemented?

6. Extraordinary government aid was also recently in the news. This is commendable because a company employing over 200 people should and must be helped out during these transition years until we all settle down within the EU framework. And yet, the government cannot discriminate between one sector and another. Is a plant directly or indirectly sustaining over 350 people (over 50 employees and their families, as well as circa another 50 breeding contractors and their families) not eligible for any extraordinary aid? Isn’t what is good for the goose, good for the gander too?

7. Finally, it is disappointing to note that as a people, we are still years behind the EU mentality. One simply has to watch Italian or British TV adverts to realise this. I envy these people who can promote their foodstuffs by simply guaranteeing the fact that their produce is totally home-bred and produced. What’s true is the fact that as a country we have had no cases of avian influenza or Newcastle disease as was the case in Europe and Thailand a few months ago. Again, it is a question of educating the consumer.

We could go on pondering the frustrations currently being felt. Apart from considering the situation from Buxom Poultry’s point of view, if one had to consider that the whole industry supports circa another 2,500-3,000 jobs one would act now and fast.

Connected to this industry we find the hatchers, the millers, the transporters, the farmers, all the employees in the processing/cut-up plants in addition to indirect companies like importers and local manufacturers of packaging material, sanitary ware, detergents, waste disposal and so on.

It is then our individual responsibility not to complain if and when unemployment figures go up. When the Maltese people are employed, they will generate a higher economic turnover. We are not a country of misers, the early 90s are proof of all this.

It is no use to increase the efficiency of a country if there is no one to sell to and with all due respect, we believe that if there is profitable employment there are purchases, retailers have a better turnover and the wheel goes round.

Edward Borg is managing director of Buxom Poultry Ltd