A lawyer for the Federation of Trade and Services (SVÞ) has stated that he believes the government’s standing ban on the import of raw meat into Iceland is distorting competition within the EEA and that the government’s reasoning for banning foreign meat is exaggerated, RÚV reports.
Lárus M.K. Ólafsson says that the government’s claim that importing raw meat would cause potential risk of transmitting animal disease is blown out of proportion and in violation of fundamental freedoms of the EEA agreement, of which Iceland is a signatory.
“We believe this argument doesn’t apply,” he said. “We refer to the ruling of the chief veterinary officer that the risk is not high, and are of the opinion that this [ban] significantly distorts competition in the European Economic Area.”
The government has said that it will allow import of raw meat from abroad only if they are found to be in violation of EEA regulations.
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