Opinion

It's been a mixed week on the food and farming front for the slick PR machine that is New Labour. The Government's refusal to oppose EU fish conservation measures upset our trawlermen and Dr Jack Cunningham's "break the ice" trip to the European Commission failed to meet the tabloids' high expectations. Judging by some headline writers' reactions to the good doctor's one day excursion to Brussels, they were convinced that he was set to cure all the BSE ills by winning an early agreement to lift the worldwide beef export ban. In reality, not even the new minister saw his visit in that light and media expectations of a "partial lifting of the ban by Christmas" were naive. The best the Government can hope for is that its new Euro-friendly approach will bring a partial raising of the export barrier for certified herds ­ probably in Scotland and Ulster ­ some time in 1998. But the notable success of the week was the swift publication of Professor James' consultative document about the proposed food standards agency. Tony Blair personally ordered an overnight unveiling of the 55 page report, keeping Labour's pre-election pledge of a more open approach to food safety. Given the agency's wide remit to assure public health in all matters of national food policy, the members of the new body must immediately command public confidence. Sadly, there is already a fear in some quarters that the recruitment of too many so-called "Food Lefties" to the agency could create an ineffective body with little credibility in the real world. Meanwhile, the word in Whitehall is that behind-the-scenes infighting between the Department of Health and MAFF about the reporting procedures to the FSA has begun ­ proof that even well oiled PR machines could face irritating delays. The Grocer has always believed the agency idea has merit as an effective method of restoring and maintaining confidence in the wake of BSE and E.Coli disasters. Internal politics must not be allowed to slow its progress onto the statute book. {{NEWS}}