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The European Union said Friday that it plans to hold an extraordinary meeting late next month over a growing tainted egg scandal as it revealed that products contaminated with an insecticide have now spread to 17 countries.

Millions of eggs have been destroyed or pulled from supermarket shelves since July 20, when it was made public that the pesticide Fipronil, which is dangerous to human health, was found mixed with another treatment sprayed on chickens for ticks, fleas and lice, known as Dega 16.

Almost all lab tests show that only very low levels of Fipronil much lower than the maximum permitted have been detected in eggs from the treated chickens, although one test in Belgium was above the European limit. Poisoning by small doses has few effects and requires little treatment. Heavy and prolonged exposure can damage the kidneys and liver or cause seizures.

The scandal has caused major political fallout, with neighbors Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany squabbling over who is to blame, and who knew what and when. Poultry farmers have been hardest hit, and are blaming the chemical industry for compromising their business and exposing consumers to danger.

The EU's executive Commission said Friday that contaminated eggs have been found at producers in four countries: Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands. Eggs or egg products from those producers have reached Austria, Britain, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia and Sweden, as well as Switzerland and Hong Kong outside the EU.

The Commission announced that it is aiming to hold talks between EU ministers and food safety agencies concerned on Sept. 26.

"The aim is to draw the relevant lessons and discuss the ways to continuously improve the effectiveness of the EU system to deal with food fraud," Commission spokeswoman Mina Andreeva said.

She said the EU's "priority remains to manage the situation, to continue to coordinate and to reassure our citizens."

In France, Agriculture Minister Stephane Travert said that tests on imported eggs contaminated with pesticide show no risk to public health.

Travert said on RMC radio Friday that some 244,000 eggs imported from the Netherlands and Belgium and sold in France were affected.

He said test results received overnight from the French food safety agency on affected eggs and egg products showed "the level of contamination does not present a risk for the consumer."

France has also confirmed one farm in the Nord-Pas de Calais region was found to have used Fipronil, and is now blocked from selling eggs.

The Agriculture Ministry says the French farm reported on July 28, as the scandal was coming to light, that Dega 16 had been used on the farm by a Belgian subcontractor, and the ministry claims no eggs concerned have been sold.

Danish food safety authorities say 20 tons of boiled and peeled eggs linked to the pesticide scandal were sold in recent months to a distributor in Denmark, which in turn sold them to canteens, cafes and catering companies in the country.

The agency said Thursday the Danish distributor, Danaeg Products, has been ordered to recall the eggs because "the content is illegal" but "not dangerous."

German Agriculture Ministry spokeswoman Jennifer Reinhard said Friday, "the facts need to be swiftly and fully investigated."

She noted that there are rapid alert systems that should be used if consumers are at risk.

"There must be no compromises when it comes to food safety," Reinhard said. "Information needs to be shared between (EU) member states without delay."

In Poland, Jan Bondar, a spokesman for the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate, said that an estimated 40,000 potentially contaminated eggs have been imported but were not sold to consumers. He said the eggs came from the Netherlands and were delivered by a German company. Contamination hasn't been confirmed but they came from farms where contaminated eggs were found. He said the eggs would either be destroyed or returned to the producer.

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European Union plans talks as tainted eggs scandal hits 17 countries - Los Angeles Times

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EU officials said they would hike taxes on certain metal imports from the country to as high as 28.5 per cent to compensate for unfair practices carried out by Chinese firms.

Beijing has long stood accused of dumping steel - subsidising manufacturers so they can sell it at below production cost - on the global market to try and destabilise manufacturing industries in the West.

US president Donald Trump has already promised to take the Eastern giant to task and now the EU is following sit with tough measures it is hoped will protect steel working jobs in Europe.

Eurocrats said an eight-month investigation had uncovered clear evidence that certain corrosion-resistant steels being sold by Chinese firms were benefitting from unfair state subsidies.

They added that in response all such goods entering into the EU will now be subject to a rising scale of tariffs, from 17.2 per cent up to 28.5 per cent, to even up the market.

In a statement the EU Commission said: "It was provisionally concluded that the imposition of measures would contribute to the recovery of the European Union industry by allowing price increases enabling the industry as a whole to return to a profitable situation."

The state-owned Chinese news agency Xinhua reported that the new measures will affect exports by the Shougang Group, Shagang Group, Hesteel Group and various other companies.

It also carried a strong denial of the claims by officials in Beijing, who said they were unfair and unreasonable. Firms affected have up to 25 days to challenge the EU decision at a hearing.

The stand-off comes as Brussels looks to set an increasingly expansionist trade agenda after Brexit, with officials actively reviving deals with partners like Japan, Canada and Mercosur.

Europe looks set for a possible trade war with the US over Donald Trump's proposed regime of tariffs, also designed to combat Chinese dumping, which could badly affect European companies.

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British Secretary of State for International Trade Liam Fox delivers remarks on 'The Future of UK Trade Policy' at the American Enterprise Institute

Senior eurocrats including Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem has said the bloc is "making preparations" to retaliate in the event the US introduces new tariffs hitting EU products.

The high-ranking Swedish official said the EU would be unjustifiably hit by the tariffs, but Mr Trump has shown little sign of backing down as he looks to deliver on a key pledge to bring manufacturing back to the US rustbelt.

Brussels is also embroiled in a separate row with Washington over new sanctions on Russian energy companies which may impact on infrastructure projects taking place within the bloc.

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European Union - EU slaps new import tariffs on Chinese steel to ... - Express.co.uk

New Delhi: The European Union (EU) is providing 200,000 euros (INR 15,052,000) in humanitarian aid funding to the northeastern states of Assam and Manipur, where floods have wreaked havoc since May, the Delegation of EU in New Delhi said on Friday.

According to a statement issued, the aid will directly benefit 25,000 badly affected people in the flood-stricken areas.

Representational image. PTI

"This EU contribution underlines our commitment to the people of India, many of whom have suffered devastating losses as a result of the flooding", said David Sevcik, Head of the South Asia Regional Office for the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), in the statement.

"The funding will ensure essential aid is delivered to those most in need, thereby helping them to survive this hard time".

The statement further said that this EU-funding supports the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) in delivering much-needed assistance through the distribution of emergency relief items such as family tents, tarpaulins, temporary sanitation facilities and mosquito nets.

"Water purification tablets and storage are provided to ensure the impacted families have access to clean water," it stated.

"In addition, training sessions to promote good hygiene practices are being organised alongside the delivery of personal hygiene items, including soaps and sanitary napkins."

The EU-funded aid targets eight of the hardest-hit districts, Karimganj, Nagaon, Dhubri and Barpeta in Assam and Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal and Bishnupur in Manipur.

The funding is part of the EU's overall contribution to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Many lives, including 84 in Assam alone, have been lost and a number of homes have been fully or partially destroyed.

According to authorities, the severe flooding has affected more than 1.7 million people and over 100,000 hectares of crop land was lost in the flood waters.

"Whilst many people have returned to their places of origin as water levels begin to recede, humanitarian needs remain immense," the statement said.

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European Union to provide 1.5 crore aid to flood-affected Assam, Manipur - Firstpost

EU leaders have repeatedly criticised human rights violations in Association of Southeast Asian States (ASEAN) member states.

But Surin Pitsuwan, former Secretary General of ASEAN, hit back by launching a stunning attack on the union last night.

He claimed EU countries fail to "respect" Brussels' diktats and suggested member states do not act "honestly".

Ten countries make up the south-east Asian alliance which was formed in 1967 including Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Mr Pitsuwan said: "The Europeans can not expect the world to revolve around their own ideas, just as it did a century or two hundred years ago.

"The colonial period is over. We work differently from Europe. We do not have strict rules, such as the level of debt which are then not respected."

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European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker greets EU Commission Chief spokesperson Margaritis Schinas

South-east Asia has long regarded European integration as model to follow.

However, the Eurozone debt crisis and the migrant crisis have both led to a growing skepticism about a supranational model.

Several ASEAN states have renounced plans for a common currency, fearing could plunge them into financial turmoil.

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Every problem of a member state can infect the others

Surin Pitsuwan

Speaking during an interview to mark ASEAN's 50th anniversary, Mr Pitsuwan added: "We in Asia have learned that we have to deal with each other honestly and cautiously.

"We communicate at all levels. We know that every problem of a member state can infect the others.

"In the West, individualism dominates. Here in Asia, however, we still need a controlling hand that is recognisable.

"However, it seems to me that Europe is now taking a step back and emphasising the role of the state again."

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The founding ofASEAN in 1967coincided with the Vietnam War and was originally aimed at curbing the rise of communism.

With an annual economic growth of about five per cent, its members form one of the most dynamic economic areas in the world.

For the European Union, the ASEAN region is its third largest trading partner after the United States and China.

Additional reporting by Monika Pallenberg

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'EU is taking a STEP BACK' Asia distances itself from Brussels as Eurozone crisis grows - Express.co.uk

Millions of eggs have been pulled from European supermarkets in the past week after an outbreak of the insecticide Fipronil.

The UK has been swept up in the scandal, with around 70,000 eggs recalled from Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Morrisons and Asda stores.

According to new report, Belgium's safety authority FASNK alerted Dutch officials and the European Commission to the scare on July 6.

The report states: "July 6 2017: Question addressed to the Netherlands via the anti-fraud system AAC-FF, explaining the hypotheses concerning the original contamination.

"This message is also read by the European authorities that operate the system."

Brussels food law is overseen by its Administrative Assistance and Cooperation System (AAC) and its Food Fraud Network (FF).

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Earlier today, Dutch police detained two men suspected of being involved in the illegal use of Fipronil at poultry farms.

The pesticide is banned by the EU for use on animals destined for human consumption, such as chickens.

Reported adverse effects from consumption of Fipronil include seizures, vomiting, dizziness and head and stomach pain.

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The Commission admitted Dutch and Belgian authorities had spoken on July 6, but it insisted it was not involved in the exchange.

A spokesman said: "On July 6, there was a bilateral exchange between Belgium and the Netherlands within the framework of the so-called administrative support and cooperation system.

"The Commission does not actively monitor the exchange in the AAC as is the case with the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF)."

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Speaking to German media, the Belgian official did not send an official risk report on the Fipronil outbreak until July 20.

He added: "The European Commission did not know about Fipronil contaminated eggs until July 20, when the Belgian authorities informed the Commission via our rapid alert system.

"The Commission did not receive any information about this contamination accusation before July 20, not via technical or any other channels."

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Belgium's Agricultural Minister said his Dutch colleagues had been made aware about eggs contaminated with Fipronil since November 2016.

The minister, Denis Ducarme, said a report had confirmed Dutch eggs had tested positive for the potentially dangerous pesticide.

But the head of Dutch Food Safety Authority, Rob van Lint, denied his claims.

He said: "The accusation that we knew of Fipronil in eggs in November 2016 is not correct. At that time, there was no evidence that there could be an acute risk to food safety."

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European Union officials 'knew about contaminated egg scandal LAST MONTH' - Express.co.uk