DEFRA MUST GET TOUGH TO ENSURE FOOD SAFETY - HUHNE

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 19th Feb 2007

Responding to David Miliband's update on the Suffolk bird flu outbreak, Liberal Democrat Shadow Defra Secretary, Chris Huhne MP said:

"David Miliband does not inspire confidence that he has got a grip on this problem.

"One of the reports published on the Holton plant shows that Bernard Matthews ignored advice to stop gulls feeding on waste meat, while another report says that Bernard Matthews heeded other verbal advice.

"Defra needs to be tougher to ensure food safety. The Holton plant should be inspected more intensively and regularly to stop any potential biosecurity lapses, and the possible infection of wild birds by waste meat."