parliamentary inquiry calls for better control of industry

What can be done to prevent the Lactalis case from happening again? The parliamentary commission of inquiry on the contamination of infant milks will make public its recommendations this Wednesday, July 18th. Proposals have already been unveiled by committee chairman Christian Hutin on Europe 1.

At the end of 2017, 36 infants had salmonellosis after consuming a baby product made by Lactalis. Salmonellosis is an infection transmitted by a Salmonella bacterium. It most often results in mild gastroenteritis. However, it can lead to a more serious infection in frail individuals such as babies.

In the Lactalis case, the withdrawal process was chaotic and many malfunctions that led to the contamination were uncovered. [19659005] "Self-control is not enough"

To avoid health problems in the agri-food industry, "self-monitoring is not enough," said Christian Hutin, the chairman of the parliamentary commission of inquiry . He said it was necessary to "control the controllers, and control the controlled". The commission will advocate "to touch the wallet" of industrialists who "do not respect a form of ethics and rigor on self-checks," according to the MP, which also refers to "a form of criminal responsibility."

It will take also check the independence of controllers, because "when a laboratory has 90% of its turnover that is related to a single company", as was the case in the Lactalis case, "it can be a problem", he badured

A new entity of control?

According to Christian Hutin, the commission will also ask that the State puts an end to the "police war" and creates a unique authority in the field of food security, denouncing a "Mexican army" with "three departments: Health, Bercy and Agriculture, it is not possible".

A moment ago, "it must be very clear: a unique number, a unique site, a unique decision," he said.

June 14, at his hearing before the commission of inquiry, the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire had defended the principle of separation of powers of control between the General Directorate of Food (DGAL) and that of the repression of fraud (DGCCRF) , that is to say between the Ministry of Agriculture and Bercy, "who have very different responsibilities."

He said he was "opposed" to a rally of the two services, while claiming establishment of a unified "chain of command" under the control of Bercy in the event of a crisis

A new procedure of withdrawal?

Concerning the procedure of withdrawal (of products for sale) / recall (of those already sold), which had proved defective during the crisis Lactalis, Christian Hutin evoked several tracks: "crash-tests" as for banks, the use of barcodes and QR codes to facilitate blockages at the cash register, and staff training. He also asks that one employee per store "be responsible for public health."

These conclusions complement those of the National Consumer Council (CNC), which brings together consumer badociations, professional organizations and competition services, which delivered its own report on Tuesday to Bruno Le Maire, Minister of the Economy.

One of the flagship proposals of this report is the establishment of a single State website where producers and distributors will have the obligation to post all the necessary information to the consumer. This proposal, however, will require "legislative provisions", the minister said.

The possibility of using bank data of customers who bought a defective product to alert them directly "could be an extraordinarily effective instrument", also estimated the chief de Bercy, who will nevertheless continue the investigation of this proposal so as not to come into conflict with bank secrecy.