§ 3.15 p.m.
§ Lord Glentoranasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they intend to take to ensure that there are no future imports into the United Kingdom of meat containing banned specified risk materials (SRM), following the discovery of such a consignment unpacked at Eastbourne, East Sussex, on 25th June.
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathMy Lords, European law requires specified risk material to be removed at the slaughterhouse. It is illegal under such law for another EU member state to send consignments of meat containing spinal cord to the UK. The Meat Hygiene Service is checking all consignments of imported carcass meat which are delivered to licensed meat plants, which is how the discovery of spinal cord on 25th June was made. The Meat Hygiene Service will continue to carry out a robust programme of inspections.
§ Lord GlentoranMy Lords, I thank the Minister for that response, although I am not totally satisfied. The discovery on Monday 25th June was by no means the first case of banned SRM being found in imports from Germany. Since then they have been found in imports from Holland, Denmark and Spain. Does the Minister agree that there appear to be two standards in relation to these materials? One standard relates to mainland Europe and the other to the United Kingdom. Does he further agree that Germany is practically incapable of exporting beef to the standards required by this country? Will he tell me what Her Majesty's Government propose to do about those differing standards.
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathMy Lords, I do not agree with the noble Lord's analysis of the situation. He is 820 right to point out that since January 2001, 16 shipments of beef from other EU member states have been found to contain meat with spinal cord still attached, in breach of the EU rules on SRM. In eight of the 16 cases the plant from which the consignment originated has had its operating licence suspended until the appropriate authorities are satisfied with the standards at that plant. I can assure the House that in each case we took up the matter robustly with the member state concerned and with the European Commission.
The noble Lord appeared to imply that there are double standards between different countries of the EU. The view that we take is clear. We must work within the established system of European law and cooperation between responsible member states. We have an established procedure under which we can raise issues of concern with other member states. I am satisfied that the Meat Hygiene Service and the Food Standards Agency acted with the utmost vigour in those cases and that the matters were then appropriately dealt with by the member states concerned. I accept that we must be ever vigilant.
§ The Countess of MarMy Lords, I declare a non-pecuniary interest as chairman of Honest Food. Can the Minister say why we need to import beef into this country, either from the European Union or from African states where foot and mouth disease is endemic, when we produce the best beef in the world? Is it not time that we looked to labelling? If the consumer was allowed to choose where his beef came from, I am sure that he would choose British beef.
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathMy Lords, I agree that labelling is a matter of concern to the consumer in this country. There are well established rules and laws in relation to labelling, but the Foods Standards Agency is reviewing what changes might be made within the context of EU law and directions to enable more information to be given to the public. I echo the remarks of the noble Countess in relation to the quality of British beef. I am sure other noble Lords agree also. In relation to imports, at the moment imports account for around 29 per cent of beef consumption.
§ The Earl of CaithnessMy Lords, if it had been 16 cases of exports from Britain of banned materials, there would be a great outcry in this country and the Government would take firm and positive action that everybody in Europe would understand. What we fail to see is what action is being taken by our partners in Europe when they are exporting this material to us. Will the Minister raise that point at the highest level?
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathMy Lords, we do raise it at the highest level. I have ensured that in each case representations have been made and discussions have taken place both with the member state and with the relevant European Commissioner. I am happy to place in the Library a note of the actions taken in respect of each of the 16 cases and the subsequent action taken by the country from which the beef came.
821 Experience has shown that our own Meat Hygiene Service has been enormously alert to the problems. Obviously, we shall continue to ensure that it carries out its duties to the highest possible standard.