EC: For poisoned Belgium eggs, he briefed in a month

The European Commission (KE) said today that Belgium's authorities have had about a month to inform about the discovery of low-level poisoned eggs of an insecticide, although member states must report “immediately”.

Millions of eggs have been attracted by shops in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. Britain, France, Sweden and Switzerland have been warned that poisoned eggs can also be found in their territories, reports the AP agency from Brussels.

European Commission spokeswoman Mina Andreeva said that “has not been provided information on this incident with poisoning” until 20 July. Poisoned eggs in Belgium were found 20 June.

She said that EU states “have legal surveillance” to inform the EC immediately, if they have reports of threatening people's health.

But she has refused to say more, given that a legal investigation is under way in Belgium and Holland to find out who knew and when.

Food security authorities say 86 farms have been controlled, while 21 of them have found traces of the Fipronyl element, which is not allowed in animal products such as chickens, which are part of human food.

Belgium's Agriculture Minister Denis Ducarme has expressed commitment to freezing this case of poisoning, but said consumers are not endangered.

There is no danger to public health today”, Ducarme said during the interview in the state broadcaster, RTBF.