EU standards mean Polish meat processors and dairies could face closure

The European Commission has proposed to close negotiations with Poland on EU sanitary standards, but on its terms. The Polish authorities find it difficult to accept the fact that dairies would have to manufacture products for export to EU countries at one standard and have poorer quality products designated only for the domestic market. The European Commission allowed Polish meat processing plants and dairies to declare whether they want a transition period of four months before Poland's EU accession. If they decide not to, they will have full access to the common market immediately. However if they opt for this transition period and fail to meet the standards on time, the European Commission will demand that they be closed down. To avoid this, Polish authorities want the term of the declaration be set as late as possible. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B2) A.Z. .