§ Mr. Colin Shepherdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will implement revised import safeguards against the introduction of Newcastle disease.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerI announced on 8 October that I was sending to the European Commission and to other member States details of the health measures which the Government have decided to apply to imports of poultrymeat and eggs into Great Britain from other Community countries except Denmark and the Republic of Ireland. These requirements are stricter in some respects than the proposals put to the Government earlier by the Commission and will permit the resumption of trade while safeguarding poultry health in this country as required by the judgment of the European Court in case 40/82.
The French authorities gave us an early reply and we have since had detailed discussions with them both on the assurances we require on the control of Newcastle disease in France and on the certification which they will supply to meet our requirements. As a result, imports of poultrymeat and eggs from France to Great Britain will be permitted from 8 November subject to their compliance with the full conditions notified to France last month. I shall arrange for copies of the relevant conditions to be placed in the Library of the House. These measures will apply to imports from France only. A further announcement will be make when we have had replies from other countries and have discussed detailed arrangements with them.