HC Deb 05 December 1983 vol 50 c52W
Sir Peter Mills

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if will list the EC countries, regions or installations from which imports of frozen pasteurised cream will not be permitted because of health status doubts; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he will list the EC countries, regions or installations from which imports of frozen pasteurised cream will not be permitted because of doubts about the standards of heat treatment; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jopling

In accordance with the Importation of Milk Regulations 1983, frozen pasteurised cream may be imported from any member state of the European Community provided it has been heated to less than 80 degrees centigrade, retained at that temperature for not less than 15 seconds and frozen immediately after that heat treatment. It must be imported in a frozen state and must be accompanied by a public health certificate signed by an official of a competent authority in the exporting member state and stating, inter alia, that the product has undergone the required heat treatment. Imports of frozen pasteurised cream are also subject to specific licensing under the Importation of Animal Products and Poultry Products Order 1980: each licence application will be considered on its merits in the light of prevailing conditions in the country of origin.