Zythos Press release reagrding lamblic breweries

PRESS RELEASE ZYTHOS NOT CONVINCED BY MINISTER DEMOTTE'S STATEMENTS ABOUT THE LAMBIC BREWERIES Zythos, the non-profit organisation of beerconsumers that is fighting for the safeguarding and propagation of the Belgian beerculture in all its aspects, is not convinced by the reassuring statements by minister of public health Demotte, concerning the future of the lambic breweries. Last weekend the minister declared that the new European regulation on the hygiene of foodstuffs was no threat for traditional Belgian beers such as lambic, gueuze and old brown. According to him the regulation did not put new demands for the producers of these beers, hence nothing had to be changed in the production process. Zythos agrees only partly with the minister's opinion. Zythos appreciates the minister's view, as stated in the House of Representatives on 17 November in answer to a parliamentary question. The minister then said: "To be able to respect the traditional production methods, I will take the necessary measures with my services to apply the prescribed regulations properly, in function of the analysis of the dangers". From this it can be concluded indeed that no immediate or short term danger is threatening the survival of the lambic breweries. However, at long term this danger certainly is not averted. All depends from the way in which the European regulation on the hygiene of foodstuffs is interpreted and applied. There is no guarantee that future authorities, employees and inspectors will do this in the same way as now promised by minister Demotte. Contrary to the minister's assumption, the European regulation certainly comprises provisions which, if strictly applied, can cause serious problems to our lambic brewers. The regulation states, for instance, that for all surfaces coming in contact with food - and beer certainly is a foodstuff - "the use of corrosion resistant, smooth, washable and non-toxic materials" is required. For the rooms where foodstuffs are prepared - in other words the brewery - the regulation states at different places that "the use of impervious, non-absorbent, washable and non-toxic materials are required, unless food business operators (i.e. the brewers) can satisfy the competent authori! ty that other materials used are appropriate". Especially this last specification ("unless...") shows clearly that much depends from the interpretation by the authorities. So the European regulation, as formulated now, gives no long tern guarantee to the lambic brewers. Precisely these brewers - if they want to maintain the authenticity of the production process - are strongly dependent from the microflora that has settled in the brewery and cannot apply the regulation in a strict sense. For these reasons Zythos keeps urging the brewers' professional organisation and the competent politicians to make use of the exemption measures that are provided for explicitly in the European regulation. Art. 4 of the regulation indeed states: "A member state may, in co-operation with the Commission (...) adapt the requirements (...), provided that the objectives of food hygiene are not compromised , with a view to (...) take account of traditional methods of production or the use of raw materials which are, according to scientific findings, established practice or tradition, characteristic of the production process". These exemption measures, which are understood to have been used already by French wine producers and cheese makers, can be applied also on our lambic brewers, gueuze blenders and old brown producers. Zythos does not agree with the answer, given by minister Demotte in the House of Representatives, concerning possible negative effects of the European regulation. He said: "I can only answer when it happens. Maybe we can request then the same exemption as France". Zythos thinks that it is better to prevent it to happen, because for some small family businesses with limited financial ability that can be fatal already. So getting the exemption measures on the European regulation is of vital importance. As a result of the closing down of the lambic brewery Oud Beersel earlier this year, Zythos launched a campaign. The slogan of it, "Save Oud Beersel", was symbolic for the problems of all lambic brewers and gueuze blenders. This campaign, resulting in more than 4000 petitions from home and abroad, will be concluded at the end of this year. Zythos asked for a meeting with the minister of consumer affairs Freya Van den Bossche. The petitions will be handed over to her, together with a list of measures that have to be taken by the responsible politicians, in order to guarantee the survival of one of Belgium's most unique beers.