May 11, 2007

Denmark hopes to set its poultry a class apart from EU

Denmark is now hoping to cash in on the low levels of salmonella found in poultry after being confirmed virtually salmonella-free.

The country's consumer minister, Carina Christensen, said Denmark would be applying for special status within the EU for Danish poultry meat.

This special status would allow the country to ban poultry meat from EU countries with a higher incidence of salmonella than its own.

Denmark, with 1.6 percent salmonella level found in its meat, has the third lowest salmonella infection rate, behind Finland and Sweden, both of which has special status granted to its poultry. Some EU countries have an infection rate as high as 68 percent.

However, stiff resistance is expected as Danish poultry is exported to much of the EU and a granting of special status may raise prices.