ISLANDERS ENCOURAGED TO EAT MAJORCAN PORK

PALMA
BUY Majorcan food products this Christmas, was the message given out yesterday by regional minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Mercè Amer.
Amer was speaking yesterday during a visit to the Can Molines farm in the district of Ariany, where most of the Island's pork farming is carried out. She said that although all food products that are on sale to the public have the necessary guarantees, customers can be assured of the best possible quality if the product is from Majorca because it doesn't have to undergo “transit” time as do goods which are imported from the mainland of Spain or from other countries. The minister placed emphasis on the fact that each stage of the meat production process is carefully monitored to ensure safety and satisfaction. She added that a key aim of her ministry was to enable the farmer or producer to have his own system up and running to be able to detect at a moment's notice if there is any health hazard in the production line. In this way, immediate measures can be taken to stop a contaminated product from reaching the supermarket shelves. To help farmers keep track on each step of their stock, special courses are being run by the ministry to educate them in agricultural monitoring and food safety. Risk management can then be handled, at its first level by the farmer who could then raise the alarm and treat the area in the production chain which is threatening health and safety. New Environmental by-laws have been designed to protect the health and well-being of farm animals. All farmers are required to comply.