HC Deb 20 February 1975 vol 886 cc456-7W
Mr. Strauss

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration has been given to the supervision and control of all meat inspection in the United Kingdom by the veterinary profession.

Mr. Strang

The Verdon-Smith Committee considered this question in 1964. Its report (Cmnd. 2282) recommended the development of a national system of ante-and post-mortem inspection of meat under veterinary responsibility and control. This recommendation was not adopted. The inspection of meat intended for export is, however, subject to veterinary supervision, and a veterinary-supervised inspection service for poultry meat will be needed to accord with the EEC directive on trade in poultry meat. We have no present proposals for further extension of veterinary responsibility in this field.