§ Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that live fowl pest vaccine is being imported into the United Kingdom and used in poultry flocks; and what steps he is taking to stop this practice.
§ Mr. PeartThe importation into this country of live fowl pest vaccine, and the use of such vaccine in poultry flocks, are both illegal. There have been a number of unsubstantiated reports, and a greater number of rumours, of such irregularities, and all of these have been or are being investigated by my Department, as will any further reports or rumours which reach us; where appropriate the Department of Customs and Excise is co-operating with us in our investigations. If the hon. Member has any information about illegalities of this kind he should bring it to my attention. Our investigations so far have revealed no evidence that live vaccine is being imported into or used in this country, except in one instance in which the Customs seized a quantity of live vaccine being smuggled into the country by a poultry farmer: this farmer was successfully prosecuted and fined. We shall not hesitate to prosecute in any other cases of illegal importation or use of live vaccine which may be detected in the future.
The policy of using dead vaccine has the support of the organised poultry industry and has achieved a considerable measure of success. It can achieve still greater success if every poultry keeper will adopt a regular programme of vaccination supported by husbandry, hygiene and disease security measures.