BELGIUM/POLAND: Row over meat transit ban leads to official complaint

The Belgian government has launched an official complaint against Poland, alleging that the country’s foot and mouth prevention measures are obstructing Belgian meat exports to Eastern Europe. Officials fear that the row has come at a bad time for Poland, whose interests may be hampered when Belgium assumes the EU presidency in less than two weeks. The country has stood by its decision to ban the transit of all meat products going to and from Belgium however, maintaining that the measures are essential to combat the spread of the highly contagious foot and mouth virus.