§ DAIRY FARM INSPECTION:
CHARGING POLICY
§ Lord O'Hagan asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether all member states of the EC charge for inspections of dairy farms on a comparable basis; and whether the recent imposition of charges in the United Kingdom discriminates against British farmers.
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Lord Belstead)This information is not readily available. However, we do know that enforcement arrangements vary widely and that our own system will be a great help in enabling us to implement the Community's heat treated milk directive so as to ensure that our standards are not undermined by imports of poor quality milk. I am sure that this is more significant in relation to fair competition than any difference in charging regimes.