The interim guidance, published on Tuesday, is aimed at reducing public health risks associated with these transactions as most emerging infectious diseases have wildlife origins.
Globally, traditional markets play a central role in providing food and livelihoods for millions of people. Banning the sale of these live wild mammals can protect the health of market workers and shoppers.
“Globally, traditional markets play a central role in providing food and livelihoods for large populations. Banning the sale of these animals can protect people’s health – both those working there and those shopping there”, they said in a press release.
The temporary guidelines were issued by WHO alongside the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
They said animals, particularly wild animals, are the source of more than 70 per cent of all emerging infectious diseases in humans, many of which are caused by novel viruses. Wild mammals sold in markets pose particular risk as there is no way to check if they carry dangerous viruses.
“Traditional markets, where live animals are held, slaughtered and dressed, pose a particular risk for pathogen transmission to workers and customers alike,” the guidance stated.
The partners noted that some of the earliest known cases of COVID-19, which is caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, were linked to a traditional food market in Wuhan, China. Many of the first people to have the disease were stall owners, market employees or regular visitors.
“It is likely that the virus that causes COVID-19 originated in wild animals, as it belongs to a group of coronaviruses normally found in bats”, they said.
“One hypothesis is that the virus was initially transmitted to humans through an intermediary animal host that is, as yet, unknown. Another possibility is that the virus was transmitted directly from a host species of animal to humans.”
Additional hygiene guidance
In addition to halting sales of wild animals, the guidelines also call for governments to close markets, or sections of markets, and to re-open them “only on condition that they meet required food safety, hygiene and environmental standards and comply with regulations.”
Authorities are also urged to improve hygiene and sanitation at traditional food markets to reduce transmission of zoonotic diseases.
“During this pandemic, additional measures for crowd control and physical distancing, hand washing and sanitizing stations as well as education on respiratory hygiene including on use of face masks should be introduced in market settings to limit the possibility of person-to-person transmission of disease,” they added.
Ahead of the next Scottish Parliament Election, due on May 6, Bishops of Scotland are calling on Catholics to put human life and the inviolable dignity of the human person at the centre, in the context of the Covid-19 crisis.
In a Pastoral Letter issued on April 11, they also call the attention on five other key areas needing particular consideration by Catholic voters and candidates. These include: Family and Work; Poverty, Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery; Environment; Free speech, free expression, and freedom of thought, conscience and religion; Catholic schools.
Referring to life issues, the Scottish bishops remind that it is a “the duty of parliamentarians to uphold the most basic and fundamental human right to life” from the moment of conception to natural death. In this regard, they ask the faithful “to be mindful of a further attempt to legalise assisted suicide in Scotland, likely to happen in this Parliament”. “It is incumbent upon our parliamentarians to show compassion for the sick and dying”, bishops stress. “This is not achieved by assisted suicide or euthanasia but by ensuring support is provided through caring and attentive politics, including investment in palliative care”.
Family and work
The letter also highlights the need to protect and promote the family “with policies creating economic and fiscal advantages for families with children” and “to ensure job opportunities” with just wages to provide a dignified livelihood for workers and their families, “especially in times of crisis” like the present one.
Poverty, human trafficking and modern slavery
Noting that poverty now affects 24% of children in the country, the letter stresses that Scotland needs elected representatives who “respect a preferential option for the poor”. According to the bishops, the Scottish government must also work with the international community “to adopt an even more effective strategy against human trafficking and modern slavery”.
Protecting the environment
Reminding that in November Glasgow will host the COP26 international climate change Summit, they say that Scotland should listen “to Pope Francis’ call to ‘hear the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor’ by lifting up the voices of the global south and coming together to rebuild our Common Home in a way that leaves no-one behind”. According to the bishops, it “can also demonstrate global leadership by strengthening its commitment to becoming a carbon neutral country”.
Freedom of speech
The letter also calls on the next group of MSPs to uphold freedom of speech, free expression and freedom of thought, conscience and religion, while protecting citizens from hate speech. “This must include, among others, the freedom to express belief in the biological reality of sex and gender”, bishops say.
Catholic schools
Finally, the letter calls on parliamentarians “to continue to support an open and diverse state education system which includes Catholic schools”, so to guarantee the “right of parents to choose a school for their children which corresponds to their own convictions is fundamental”.
The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) releases on Tuesday 13th April 2021 the statement“One year after: What place for social, ecological and contributive justice in the EU recovery package?”, reaction of its Social Affairs Commission to the largest package ever financed through the EU budget and its effects on social, ecological and contributive justice. Mgr. Hérouard, President of the Social Affairs Commission of COMECE: “we are called to live solidarity in the European Union and fully include people in precarious situations or isolation”.
One year ago, the COVID-19 pandemic hit hardly the European Union, affecting people’s health, the economy and society as a whole. Together with the ongoing climate crisis and the digital and demographic transitions, Europe now faces also double health and economic emergency.
In this context, the Bishops of the European Union welcome the EU recovery package as “a new sign of solidarity in the European Union, much needed to help the people most impacted by the crisis, and to tackle the ongoing global ecological crisis”.
COMECE urges all Member States to “fulfil their commitment of July 2020 by ratifying the Own Resources Decision in their national Parliaments” and encourages all international actors “to cooperate to find global solutions on digital taxation […] to move towards a fairer taxation system in which large companies contribute in a fair way to the recovery”.
“Against particular interests, we are called to live solidarity in the European Union and fully include people in precarious situations or isolation, and in particular those affected by the COVID-19 crisis. We ask the EU and its Member States that all economic actors, and in particular multinationals companies, some of which have benefited from the crisis, participate in a fair way to the recovery effort to increase ‘mutual trust’ in our economy. At the same time, caring for our neighbours should go in hand in hand with caring for our common home, as one human family living on the same planet”, states H.E. Mgr. Antoine Hérouard.
The COMECE Commission also appreciates the integration of new own EU resources “to ensure that everyone contributes in a fair way to the recovery, while caring for our common home and people who live in it”.
If we are to tackle individualistic trends and to put human dignity back at the centre of our policies, solidarity among nations is needed more than ever. “Solidarity – the document reads – is at the heart of the European Union and will be the key in the recovery”.
The statement was elaborated by the COMECE Social Affairs Commission and analyses some of the achievements of the European Union towards social, ecological and contributive justice since COVID-19 hit the EU. This reflection paper also includes concrete proposals for more solidarity in the recovery process and follows the May 2020 statement “Let Europe recover through justice”, first reaction of the COMECE Social Affairs Commission to the recovery plan proposed by the European Commission.
The non-compliance rate for pesticides in foods decreased in 2019, according to a report published by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
The report is based on data from official national controls done by EU member states, Iceland and Norway.
For 2019, 96.1 percent of the 96,302 samples analyzed fell below the maximum residue level (MRL), 3.9 percent, or 3,720 samples, exceeded this level, of which 2,252 were non‐compliant based on measurement uncertainty.
The number of samples tested in 2019 increased compared to 91,015 in 2018. The MRL exceedance rate was 4.5 percent and the non-compliance rate was 2.7 percent in 2018.
Fipronil findings still featured in eggs with 23 samples and animal fat with eight. It is a veterinary medicinal product or biocide and presence in eggs is the result of illegal use. EFSA advised that member states continue analyzing for it in animal products. Ethylene oxide, which has prompted thousands of recalls across Europe from late 2020, was not mentioned.
Multiple findings and origin details Reporting countries looked for 799 different pesticides in 2019. On average, 233 different ones were analyzed per sample. National control programs are risk-based, targeting products likely to contain pesticide residues or for which infringements have been identified in previous years.
Of all samples, 44.1 percent contained one or several pesticides in quantifiable concentrations, which is down from 47.8 percent in 2018. Multiple residues were reported in 25,584 samples. In a dried vine fruit sample with unknown origin, up to 28 different pesticides were found. In 313 tests, more than 10 pesticides were detected in the same sample.
The most frequently quantified pesticides were copper compounds, fosetyl, phosphane, bromide ion and chlorates. The one with the highest MRL exceedance rate was chlorate, a result in line with past years.
More than 61,000 samples came from one of the reporting countries and a quarter were from non-EU nations. Samples with unknown origin increased to 11.3 percent compared to 10 percent in 2018. France reported nearly half of its samples as unknown origin. Country of origin is a valuable piece of information for traceability reasons in the case of non-compliance, according to EFSA.
Of samples from the reporting countries, 2.7 percent exceeded the MRL and 1.3 percent were non-compliant. Samples from non-EU countries had a higher exceedance rate of 7.8 percent and a higher non-compliance level at 5.6 percent.
The highest MRL exceedance rates were linked to products from Malta, Cyprus and Poland, with more than 5 percent of samples above the MRL. The non-compliant rate was most for products grown in Malta, Cyprus and Bulgaria. The top exceedance rates for non-EU countries were in Laos, Malaysia, Ghana, Uganda, Vietnam, Pakistan, Dominican Republic, Thailand and Cambodia.
Food for children, organic and glyphosate The MRL exceedance rate in processed food products for 9,983 samples, was 2.8 percent, which is lower than that for unprocessed products.
Among 86,319 samples of unprocessed food products, 4 percent had residues above their corresponding MRLs and 2.4 percent were non-compliant samples. The percentage of non-compliances is slightly lower than 2018.
The highest MRL exceedance rates were in grape leaves, yard-long beans, coriander leaves, chili peppers, watercress, passion fruits/maracujas, pitahaya (dragon fruit), celery leaves, pomegranates, teas, and prickly pears/cactus fruits.
Reporting countries analyzed 1,513 samples of foods for infants and young children. MRL exceedances were reported in 20 samples and non-compliance was found five times. In one case, five pesticide residues were reported in the same sample.
More than 6,000 samples of organic food were tested. In total, 76 samples had residue levels above their corresponding MRLs, of which 31 were non-compliant. Animal products showed a higher quantification rate in organic samples of 15 percent than conventional samples at 6 percent mainly because of hexachlorobenzene, DDT, thiacloprid and copper findings.
Glyphosate was analyzed by 26 countries. From the 13,336 samples of different products, it was quantified at levels below the MRL in 364 samples and levels exceeded the limit for 12 samples.
For the 12,579 samples in the EU‐coordinated control program (EUCP), 2 percent, or 241, exceeded the MRL and 120 were non‐compliant.
The EUCP covered apples, head cabbages, lettuce, peaches, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes, oat grain, barley grain, wine, cow’s milk and swine fat. Samples were analyzed for 182 pesticide residues.
Pesticides, not approved in the EU and found on crops grown there at non-compliant levels, included acephate, carbofuran, chlorfenapyr, chlorothalonil, chlorpropham, clothianidin, cyfluthrin, dieldrin, iprodione, methomyl, oxadixyl and triadimefon. Non-approved residues found to be non-compliant on imported samples were acephate, chlorfenapyr, clothianidin, dichlorvos, fipronil, permethrin and thiamethoxam.
Because these results indicate possible misuse of non-approved substances, EFSA recommended that member states follow-up the findings to investigate reasons for their presence and use and take action where appropriate.
(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)
Head of the European Union Delegation to Liberia, Ambassador Laurent Delahousse, monitors inmates at the Kakata Central Prison vocational training center
Monrovia – Two former prisoners convicted for the alleged commission of the crime rape in Kakata, Margibi County have testified to the adequate acquisition of tailoring skills, which have immensely contributed to their transformation, under the European Union Delegation to Liberia’s funded Strengthening Democracy and Respect for Fundamental Human Rights of Prisoners program.
The program contributes to strengthening democracy and the respect of fundamental human rights for most vulnerable detainees in Liberia, through the provision of vocational skills training (tailoring), support to inmates for reintroduction into the society (offering of sewing machines through reintegration), and improvements of prison facilities with the creation of a reading and hearing rooms.
It also builds the capacity of staff of the Bureau of Corrections, ensures the installation of a solar panel and a computer with an application/database of inmates, pro bono assistance for court hearing and fast tracking of cases, living conditions improvements, and the provision of health materials and improved condition for visiting nurse.
The program which amounts to 750, 000 Euro (US$800,000) is being implemented by Serving Humanity for Empowerment and Development Foundation (SHED) and the Rural Human Rights Activists Program (RHRAP) at the Kakata Prison in Margibi County.
It is said to be improving the conditions and empowering convicts and inmates who are being reprimanded for alleged crimes committed.
John S. Fayiah, a beneficiary of the program and resident of Kakata was convicted for statutory rape in June 2014. He was released in 2020 after serving six of his 10 years sentence at the prison facility.
Prior to his incarceration, Fayiah lost his parents and all of his siblings during the heat of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Liberia in 2014.
According to him, the EU funded program played a pivotal role as evidenced by his recent marriage and the decision taken to open his tailoring shop.
He claimed that though he was imprisoned for a crime he did not commit, he managed to pay keen attention to the acquisition of a skill in tailoring while in prison to become a productive citizen after he is released.
“I achieved skill in the prison and today, I am living by the skill. Through this skill, today I am a married man. That woman (pointing) – you see over there, is my wife. The Coordinator for Kakata Prison-even what is on him today is one of my productions”.
He spoke during a recent visit of the Ambassadors of the European Union, Germany, France and Sweden, among others to the Kakata Central prison in Margibi County.
Take skills seriously
Fayiah used the occasion to urge his colleagues and other inmates who remain incarcerated to take the vocational skills training program funded by the EU very serious.
He noted that though it remains the responsibility of the government to ensure the wellbeing of its citizens, inmates and convicts who are being reprimanded from crimes committed should muster the courage to acquire vocational skills in a bid to adequately prepare for life after prison.
“Today, most of us can be crying ‘oh the government-things hard, things hard’ because we don’t want to do things that will help us. Every one of us want to depend on the government and government will not do all. They will do some, but they will not do all. So, the little you learn; when God blessed you-you go out there; you should stand on it and focus to do something on it tomorrow for your future”.
Fayiah told reporters that though he felt “bad” for being in prison for a crime he did not commit, he managed to place keen focus on learning how to sew-a move he claimed-makes him a lovely and respectable person in his community.
A cry for help
Fayiah, however, called on the governments of European Countries that are part of the EU and donor partners to see reason to complement the efforts of those who they have aided while in prison to enable them provide similar training to disadvantaged youths and others in their respective communities.
“I am asking the donors to help us because, the community I am living, lots of people are coming to me and say I should train them. And you can’t learn, and you take what you learned and keep it to yourself”.
He added that the European Union should help provide those who they have trained with materials to be able to impact the knowledge and skills into those who are willing to acquire vocational skills in tailoring.
Fayiah expressed willingness to train disadvantaged youths and other inmates when he is accorded the requisite support to construct a better shop and purchase materials as part of his contribution towards Liberia’s rebuilding process.
He added: “We Liberians are the ones to build Liberia. Liberia cannot be built by different person”.
Nathaniel Manneh is another beneficiary of the European Union Delegation to Liberia’s funded Strengthening Democracy and Respect for Fundamental Human Rights of Prisoners program.
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He was convicted of statutory rape in Kakata on November 25, 2013. He was convicted for 12 years but spent seven years in prison.
He disclosed that following his conviction, he was shortlisted by prison authorities to form part of the program which serves as a mean of survival.
“I want to firstly say thank you to the prison authorities, SHED, Finn Aid and RHRAP for the program at the prison here. I never thought of being a Tailor while I was being confined here; but when the program came, through the Superintendent (of prison)-my name was taken and I participated in the program. I graduated with the skill of tailoring. I am presently out there sewing”.
Manneh, however, vowed to “do the right thing”, be a law-abiding citizen and concentrate on his skills acquired to realize his full potential.
He noted that though he has not been able to open his personal tailoring shop, he remains grateful for the opportunity accorded him to serve as one of the trainers at the tailoring training program at the Kakata Central Prison.
He expressed joy over the consistent trust and confidence reposed in him and others by school authorities in the county to sew the gowns for their graduates for closing programs.
Giving an overview of the project earlier, SHED Executive Director, Mrs. Joyce Qweglay Pajibo, commended the EU Ambassador and others for taking ownership of their various projects being done in the country.
She disclosed that the project started in 2018 with Finn Church Aid to curtail over crowdedness at various prison facilities across the country.
“There are human rights issues in Liberia but the people in pre-trial detention faced graver issues. Before the inception of this project, their rights were violated without any notice or concern. It might not have been the intention of the law enforcement officers to do that, but we have many laws on books in Liberia, but implementation is any issue. And this was no exception also about the human rights issues faced by people in detention in all of the prisons in Liberia”.
“Based on that, SHED, Finn Church Aid and RHRAP thought it wise to advance this project idea to the European Union (EU) to be able to support the prisons particularly with the over crowdedness issue and enforcing and promoting the rights of people in detention and in prison in general”.
Madam Pajibo attributed the over crowdedness of prisons across Liberia to low capacity of prison facilities, slow adjudication of cases and the violations of the rights of pre-trail detainees’ rights who remain behind bars for more than 30 days, adding that, “people were in prison for more than 60 days, more than a year and dashed there for nothing completely”.
“Many of our prisons were built to cater for the small Liberian population that we had before. But right now, as you see, all of the prisons have become overcrowded because our population is growing and the prisons still remain the same. Like this prison that you see here in Kakata-was only built to host 60 inmates. But before this project started in this prison, we had about 190 sometimes.
She disclosed that the population at the prison facility in Kakata has drastically reduced as a result of the fast-tracking of hearings or cases.
Madam Pajibo noted that a psycho-social support component was added to the project to help prevent similar prisoners from being released and returning back to the prison facility on a regular basis.
“We realized in the project that there was no mind transformation process with the work that was being done. So, we added the psycho-social support that is being provided by our lawyers. Secondly, people went into the communities with no skills at all. They saw themselves not being useful to the communities; they felt excluded from the communities. So, we introduced the skill training tailoring program. We have found that component to be very useful”.
“The project also addressed issues of awareness on human rights. We hired the James A. A. Pierre Judicial Institute that comes to do projects on rule of law, respect for fundamental human rights and respect for the rights of prisoners”.
For his part, the Head of the European Union Delegation to Liberia, Ambassador Laurent Delahousse, described prison as a “very delicate matter in every country”.
He emphasized that the rights of prisoners must be protected though they are being reprimanded for alleged acts committed.
He noted that prisoners should also be accorded the necessary support while in prison to enable them become productive citizens in their various communities and the country at large after they are released from these prison facilities.
“For the people who are in this prison-their time here must not be an end; their time here can be a time of new beginning. People have a history; people are here for a reason, but that past must be the past and we must help, through prisons- people to have a future to return to their life or to build a new life”.
Ambassador Delahousse further commended the project’s donors and implementers for helping to “reintegrate people who have paid for what they did in the past.”
He further assured of the European Union’s unwavering commitment and support to “deliver to the people of Liberia and the society”.
He added that the EU will continue to help “even the people who have suffered themselves” in the Liberian society.
Tehran suspends dialogue and cooperation with Brussels on terrorism, drugs, refugees and human rights due to EU sanctions against Iranian persons for human rights violations, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Monday.
On Monday, the EU Council decided to extend its sanctions it first imposed in 2011 as a response to “serious human rights violations in Iran” until 13 April 2022. These measures include a travel ban and an asset freeze, and a ban on exports to Iran of equipment that may be used “for internal repression and of equipment for monitoring telecommunications”.
The EU Council also added eight persons and three entities to this sanctions list in view of their role in the crackdown of the November 2019 demonstrations in Iran. Currently, there are 89 individuals and 4 entities on the list.
