HC Deb 17 April 1975 vol 890 cc652-4
14. Mr. Beith

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement about his discussions with the French Government on egg imports.

The Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. E. S. Bishop)

Talks with the French Government at official level were held on 25th February and 20th March and I gave details in my replies to my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Torney) on 4th March and my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mr. Corbett) on 26th March.—[Vol. 887, c. 368; Vol. 889, c. 169.]

Representatives of the control bodies in each country are meeting in Brittany this week to discuss problems concerning the implementation of the Community's rules on the labelling of eggs.

Mr. Beith

Is the Minister aware that the uncertainty and distress in the industry continues? Will he confirm that his understanding of his officials' discussions with the French is that if the arsenical element is removed from feed produced and used in Britain our eggs will then be allowed into France? What will be the consequences for other sources of eggs imported into this country which contain arsenicals? Will the Minister clarify what the consequences will be for trade in both directions?

Mr. Bishop

I remind the hon. Gentleman of the statement I made in the House rather late last night in the debate on the Eggs Authority Order when I announced that I had now received the agreement of the manufacturers to ban the use of arsenical compounds in the feeding and rearing of poultry used for commercial egg production. The feeding stuffs trade has been consulted in the last few weeks and has accepted the ban. The licences issued by the Ministry have been altered so that this use is no longer lawful. I have informed the French Government of this action so that, in accordance with the assurance already given, they will allow United Kingdom eggs free access to their market. That is of importance to the industry, because it means that we can resume the export of eggs to the French.

Mr. Jopling

Does the Minister recall that during the debate last night allegations were made from this side of the House that French producers in their feedstuffs are allowed to use antibiotics, a use which is not permitted to British producers, and that eggs imported from France may contain elements of antibiotics which are not present in British eggs? Has the hon. Gentleman had time to examine those allegations? If not, will he assure us that he will make an early report to the House on the allegations that have been made?

Mr. Bishop

We have no evidence on the points made by the hon. Gentleman, but we will keep the matter under review.

Mr. Biffen

Have any representations been made to or received from Comissioner Lardinois in respect of this trade?

Mr. Bishop

My right hon. Friend and I have gone very carefully into the allegations about discrimination, dumping and the use of the Equalisation Fund by the French to see whether this is unfair. An approach has been made to the Commission. I understand that on 10th April Mr. Lardinois asserted that the British market must adapt itself to the new element of competition from the French as there was no evidence that French eggs were being dumped. He added that this would hurt in the short term but he refused to acknowledge that any measures were necessary at the frontier. We are keeping the matter under review. The Commission is aware of the concern of the industry in this country.