Madam, – It is now nearly impossible to buy fresh local eggs with one’s groceries.
There was a good tradition of farmers’ wives defraying the household expenses by bartering a few eggs in the local shop. Where this still happens the eggs must now be hidden under the counter (along with the cocaine) lest the inspector sees them.
The Food Safety Authority is now busy enforcing an EU regulation to prevent one from buying one’s Christmas goose or turkey from a neighbour unless she is registered as “a food business operator”.
The helpline gives traceability as the reason for this unwanted legislation. There is no need for tracing when the goose goes straight from farmyard into one’s oven. The poor bird probably has a name and may have been reserved for one since she was hatched in the spring.There are no problems with locally sold poultry and this legislation is unnecessary. – Yours, etc,