A LEADING politician has backed a European drive to oversee the continent's food safety.

Terry Wynn, North-west MEP, believes a body which can protect the health and safety of food consumers in the region would reduce the risk of BSE, salmonella, and foot and mouth in the future.

The Food Safety Authority will consist of scientific committees to advise on food handling procedures. There will be scrutiny of all food and animal feed produced both in the EU and abroad.

He said: "In a global economy, Europe must be able to identify the dangers and act on them. There can be no safe havens for dodgy food production."