§ Mrs. Winifred Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make representations to the Dutch and German Governments regarding their regulations for the import of venison; what proposals he has to assist exporters of Scottish venison; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. William RossIn the absence of any EEC directive on intra-Community trade in game the Dutch and West German Governments are within their rights in imposing their own requirements on the standard of hygiene for venison intended for consumption in their respec-386W tive countries. Her Majesty's Government made representations to the West German Government about the effect of their action on our export trade and have protested formally about the short notice given of the introduction of the new Regulations on 1st January 1975. We also made representations to the Dutch Government in October 1973 when we were advised of their requirements in respect of imports of venison.
The agriculture departments have had several meetings with the game industry at which the German requirements have been explained in detail. While the veterinary requirements are in themselves not unreasonable they create difficulties in their application to the circumstances in which deer are normally shot in Scotland. The industry has set up a working party to study the feasibility of complying with the German regulations and I await the outcome of its deliberations.