Cablegate: Portugal On Soy Issue at Eu Agriculture Council

VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLI #0480 2461227
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 031227Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7847
INFO RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC

UNCLAS LISBON 000480

SIPDIS

AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT FOR FAS
STATE DEPARTMENT FOR EEB/TPP/ABT, EUR/ERA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EUN TBIO PGOV PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL ON SOY ISSUE AT EU AGRICULTURE COUNCIL

REF: STATE 86566

Post delivered reftel points on September 2 to Rui Noronha
and Antonio Cerca Miguel of the Portuguese Ministry of
Agriculture's Office of European Issues and International
Relations who concurred about the gravity of the issue but do
not have an assessment of the potential impact on Portugal's
livestock industry. Noronha said the Agriculture Council
will be discussing the issue at the September 7 meeting and
Portugal supports relaxation of the "zero tolerance" policy
for both livestock feed and human consumption. Noronha
projects that the high cost of inaction will push the Council
to accept some moderation of the policy regarding livestock
feed.

For more reporting from Embassy Lisbon and information about Portugal,
please see our Intelink site:

http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/portal:port ugal
BALLARD

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