HC Deb 07 July 1965 vol 715 cc1571-3
16. Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures are taken by his Department if bacteriological examination of samples of imported meat reveals a source of infection.

Mr. Peart

When such a finding is notified to my Department it is taken up with the responsible authority in the country of origin. Any history of such findings is borne in mind when a visit is made to a supplying country in connection with the arrangements under the Public Health (Imported Food) Regulations for the official health certification of meat and meat products exported to this country.

Mr. Lloyd

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that my Question is designed to focus public opinion in a responsible way upon the anxieties felt by scientists who are in close touch with this problem? Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied with a system by which, in effect, meat can reach shops and consumers before the results of the bacteriological tests made at the ports are made known?

Mr. Peart

I accept that one must have attention directed to this aspect and I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for doing so. I am considering the position to see if we can improve the situation by introducing new regulations. Consultations are taking place. However, I agree that this is very important and we try to take every precaution. In consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health I am having proposals examined by all the authorities concerned.

26. Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that health officers have adequate opportunity to examine cargoes of imported meat, especially of meat intended for human consumption; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peart

The Imported Food Regulations empower medical officers of health and their staffs to examine meat on importation and to sample it for special examination. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Health and I are consulting interested parties on proposals to revise the regulations to provide more specific powers for the detention of consignments while samples are examined.

Mr. Lloyd

In the same spirit as my previous questions, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether in the course of his consultations he will bear in mind that half of the food poisoning cases in this country are due to meat and that about half of the samples of frozen boneless horsemeat imported as pet food have been shown to be contaminated with salmonella organisms and that there is a risk of meat intended for human consumption being contaminated?

Mr. Peart

I accept that. The right hon. Gentleman is interested in this subject and I agree that it is a serious matter. Imported meat can be affected. That is why I have said that with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health we are looking at the Regulations and discussing how best we can improve the situation.

Mr. Wallace

Can my right hon. Friend give a definite assurance that meat imported for pet food, including kangaroo meat, is rigorously confined to pet food preparation and does not enter channels leading to the preparation of food for human consumption?

Mr. Peart

I am anxious to see that all food which is imported, whether for pets or for human beings, is not infected or of bad quality.

Mr. R. W. Elliott

Is it not most difficult, particularly with canned meat, for the medical officer of health at the port concerned to make adequate inspection? Will the Minister recall the Aberdeen outbreak and the associated scare in Newcastle-upon-Tyne which might have been avoided had there been adequate inspection at the canning source by officials of his own Ministry? Does he think that his inspectorate is adequate?

Mr. Peart

I was not responsible at that period, but I assure the hon. Gentleman that since then we have strengthened our inspection overseas and more countries have been covered by our inspectorate service.