§ 53. Mr. John Hallasked the Minister of Health if the meat inspection of poultry at processing plants in the United Kingdom is being carried out in accordance with the statutory standards required for the post mortem inspection of cattle, sheep and pigs at licensed slaughterhouses.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Mr. Julian Snow)The statutory standards relating to the post mortem inspection of cattle, sheep and pigs at licensed slaughterhouses do not apply to poultry. Inspection of poultry is undertaken by local authorities under the provisions of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, and the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations, 1960.
§ Mr. HallIs the Minister aware that there is a feeling that in many areas the standard of these poultry processing plants falls far below what is desirable, to such an extent that the American Forces are refusing to buy poultry from these plants? Is he, therefore, prepared to look at the matter again and to see whether the present Regulations are sufficiently strong?
§ Mr. SnowYes, Sir. I will do that. The hon. Gentleman is perhaps aware 1104 that 170 million broiler chickens alone are reared in this country each year. Individual inspection is, therefore, quite impossible. Local authorities oversee the work of producers, and they operate under standards of hygiene recommended in the code of hygiene practice for poultry packing and dressing published by Ministers in 1961.