§ Mr. WATTasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that boxed boneless meat is not permitted as an import into Germany on account of the impossibility of satisfactorily examining it for disease; and will he say whether he will adopt a similar system in this country?
§ Mr. BURNSI understand that the importation of fresh boxed boneless meat into Germany is not allowed. As regards this country, regulations have been made on the subject under the Public Health (Regulations as to Food) Act, 1907. Boneless pork, not being scrap meat, can only be imported if it is officially certified as having been found free from disease in the country of origin, and all scrap meat, whether pork or not, is excluded.
§ Mr. WATTHas the right hon. Gentleman ascertained whether the traders of this country who deal in this meat would suffer much loss if it were entirely excluded?
§ Mr BURNSI have already said boneless scrap meat is excluded, and the question whether traders would suffer much loss and inconvenience has to be tempered by another consideration—whether the consumers' interests would be imperilled if we were to allow this to go on.
§ Mr. BURNSSo far we have only had two instances of their unreliability, and the Governments of the countries from which the meat came have taken very active steps to prevent any fraud in the future.