Foie gras diplomatic spat between France and Germany intensifies
By Henry Samuel, Paris
6:30AM BST 28 Jul 2011
A diplomatic row between France and Germany over foie gras has intensified with one minister warning it could have “global repercussions”.
This time, however it had nothing to do with disagreement on how to save the euro or President Nicolas Sarkozy’s over-tactile handling of Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The bone of contention is over foie gras and a leading German food fair’s decision to ban the French delicacy, made from the liver of force-fed geese or ducks.
Foie gras producers are furious after being told their liver pâté is not welcome at the biennial Anuga food fair in Cologne in October.
Fair organisers caved in to pressure from animal rights groups who claim foie gras production is cruel.
To create the fattened liver needed for foie gras, ducks or geese must be force-fed to bloat their livers by up to ten times their normal size – a technique known in French as gavage.
French law permits foie gras production as part of its “protected cultural and gastronomic heritage” – Gallic cultural exception oblige.
While the practice is banned in Germany, the consumption of foie gras is legal and the Germans consume 170 tons of the pate every year – hence the French outrage.
In a sign of rising diplomatic tensions, Pierre Lellouche, France’s external trade minister, yesterday summoned Germany’s ambassador to Paris and called on his government to “exercise the strongest authority over the (fair) organisers and get them to respect European law” (on free movement and non-discrimination of goods).
“This is anything but anecdotal,” he said, warning that the boycott would have “global repercussions”.
His stark warning came days after the French agriculture minister, Bruno le Maire, wrote to his German counterpart, Ilse Aigner, asking her to overturn the ban and threatening to boycott the opening ceremony.
“It is important for the French foie gras sector to be present at a fair visited by numerous buyers in the period before the end of the year celebrations,” Mr Le Maine wrote. “If this exclusion is confirmed, I cannot see how I will be able to take part in the opening.”
France “rigorously applied all [European] community regulations regarding the wellbeing of animals,” Mr Le Maine insisted. Mr Aigner dismissed the letter, saying it was up to the organisers to decide on the issue.
The affair has sparked a war of words between those for and against foie gras. Joining the fray was Brigitte Bardot, the film star-turned animal rights activist, who last week urged a German minister not to bow to pressure to overturn the ban.
Animal rights campaigners claim that as few as 10 per cent of French foie gras producers respect a new EU rule forbidding housing birds in individual cages where they are unable to flap their wings to breath more easily.
Alain Fauconnier, a Socialist member of France’s senate from the Aquitaine region, where most French foie-GRAS is made, said: “It’s unbelievable. It’s like banning German sausages in France. The economic cost is enormous for us because Germany is an important market.” He has called on meat and poultry producers to boycott the German fair if the “totally discriminatory measure” is upheld.
About 37 million ducks and 700,000 geese are slaughtered each year to make French foie gras, and France accounts for 75 per cent of global production. The technique is said to have first appeared in 2500BC, when the Egyptians noticed that migratory geese were able to stock fat in their liver in preparation for long-distance flights. They found the taste succulent, so started reproducing the natural phenomenon by fattening geese with figs and cereals.
Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/8666694/Foie-gras-diplomatic-spat-between-France-and-Germany-intensifies.html
Although the Philippines is not known for being the wine capital of Asia, Clark Pampanga is the most frequently visited destination for wine lovers in Cebu, Angeles City and Manila to shop for some good vintage wine. The famous wine shop outside Manila called Clark Wine Center is the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
This wine shop in Clark is highly recommended as one of the best places to buy wine in Pampanga. Clark Freeport is just outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center. Visitors buy wine in Manila and Pampanga should not miss stopping at this wine shop for a few bottles of fine vintage wines to bring home.
Established in 2002, YATS WINE CELLARS is a wholly-owned business unit of Hong Kong-based Yats International which owns and operates resort, wine shops, wine bars and fine-dining restaurant properties in Clark Freeport in The Philippines. YATS WINE CELLARS caters to a clientele of discerning wine lovers from all over the world. Besides a good selection of wine for everyday enjoyment, YATS offers a unique selection of aged vintage wines made available to wine enthusiasts at remarkably affordable prices. Vintages span over a century and the selection of old- and new-world wines covers all major wine regions.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com
Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.
Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)
YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay
Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.
Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:
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While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com
YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com
Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:
http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com
Yats Restaurant is the best restaurant for special dinner, best restaurant for dinner with friends near Manila, also the best place to celebrate special events.
Famous Restaurant in Pampanga, a place to dine with friends in Clark, cozy restaurant with a nice ambience, a nice function place for special occassions
www.YatsRestaurant.com
Where to go in Clark? Hotel Clark Philippines is a De Luxe Hotel in Clark and Subic, a risk free place to stay, cozy and nice ambience, a nice function place for special occassion
www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
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