The Earl of Haddingtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What measures they are taking to ensure that meat products imported from the European Union are of the same high standard as that presently adopted in the United Kingdom; and if these meat products are not of the same standard, what measures they will take to encourage the attainment of such standards by European Union exporters of meat products into the United Kingdom market.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Lord Donoughue)All consignments of meat products imported into the UK from other member states must have been produced in accordance with harmonised Community rules laid down in Council Directive 77/99/EEC (as amended). As regards fresh meat, the harmonised rules are laid down in Council Directive 64/443 (as amended).
My right honourable friend announced on 5 June that the Government were opening consultations on proposals which would mean that the requirement in the Specified Bovine Material Order to remove and dispose of specified tissues would apply not only to carcases of bovine animals which have died or been slaughtered in 149WA the United Kingdom but also to bovine material which has been imported into the UK and to imported products containing or derived from such material. The timing of implementation of the proposed measures will be considered in the light of progress in discussions in the Agriculture Council this week on EU-wide controls on specified risk materials in cattle, sheep and goats.