HL Deb 25 February 2004 vol 658 cc59-60WA
Lord Rotherwick

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether any poultry products from countries from which imports are banned have been seized in the United Kingdom over the last four months. [HL1317]

Lord Davies of Oldham

Imports of poultry products from all countries outside the EU were prohibited with effect from 1 January 2003 apart from (a) commercial consignments which are from those countries which have establishments approved to export poultry to the EU and which are introduced to the United Kingdom via a border inspection post, and (b) small quantities for personal consumption which may be imported from a limited number of the European countries that are not members of the EU.

With effect from 23 January 2004, imports of all poultry products from Thailand were prohibited in the light of the outbreak of avian influenza (A) as this was a country from which imports were previously allowed from approved establishments.

The information requested is not available, as HM Customs and Excise central seizure records do not require poultry products to be identified separately from other white meats.