Day 078 - 26 Jan 95 - Page 47


     
     1        answers he has already given, I do not know.  I think you
     2        could explore a lot further and we would be in just the
     3        same position as we are at quarter to three.  If you have
     4        some express matter to put to him, that you think McKey has
     5        got beef from some area which will take us to rainforest
     6        lands or recent rainforest lands, then by all means put it.
     7
     8        Ask your next question but do bear that in mind.  We want
     9        as little running off the ball as we can have.
    10
    11   MS. STEEL:  I will just ask that question then and then move
    12        on.  (To the witness):  He goes on to say:  "For example,
    13        the US market only purchases beef bred in the USA and
    14        stamped with the US Government seal of origin; similarly
    15        here, the UK market only uses beef stamped as being of EEC
    16        origin".  Is that correct?  I mean, what does "EEC origin"
    17        mean?
    18        A.  "EEC origin" means any beef which has been stamped by
    19        an EEC inspector.  Now, it might seem very strange but in
    20        Labotzi there is a meat works in Botswana which is staffed
    21        by Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food veterinary
    22        officers.  So, it is EEC approved beef and I explained to
    23        you that that is because of the LOME agreement.  In the
    24        context of this letter, for McDonald's we are only using
    25        EEC beef which is within the boundaries of the EEC,
    26        countries within Europe.
    27
    28   Q.   Except that this was written in 1989 and you have just said
    29        that you were using American and Canadian beef for
    30        McDonald's?
    31        A.  Yes, but I think I also said I finished that in about
    32        1988 and, you see, things are getting out of proportion
    33        here.  One or two tonnes of Canadian flanks is nothing in
    34        the capacity of the weight of beef which is produced for
    35        McDonald's every week.  It is nothing.
    36
    37   Q.   I do not understand that.
    38
    39   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Do not ----
    40
    41   MS. STEEL:  You have said in here about importing about beef
    42        from America and Canada; why do you bother to mention it if
    43        it is only one or two tonnes?
    44        A.  Because when that pamphlet was produced (and it was
    45        produced for the benefit of McDonald's AOC students) it
    46        tells them everything.  As I keep trying to say, McKey has
    47        got nothing to hide.
    48
    49   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  If you can get near a rainforest with
    50        Mr. Walker, do so, but you have made your point about 
    51        alleged breaches of any policy that there is.  It is really 
    52        a matter for argument what, if any, conclusion I can draw 
    53        from that.  I have to say it gives the impression that or
    54        could give the impression, if we are approaching it all the
    55        time from this indirect way, that you have nothing specific
    56        to put on this, save for the Brazilian beef we have talked
    57        about and anything which comes out of Costa Rica and
    58        Guatemala which is not within Mr. Walker's sphere.
    59
    60   MS. STEEL:  I think it is relevant because a large part of

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