HC Deb 27 November 1985 vol 87 cc582-3W
Mr. Onslow

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek to suspend the import of Ethiopian tinned meat into the United Kingdom and other European Community countries until such time as the Ethiopian Government can show that no grain fit for human consumption is being used to fatten cattle for export from that country.

Mrs. Fenner

[pursuant to her reply, 25 November 1985, c. 364]: No. The only justification for banning imports of tinned meat from a country is that they would constitute a risk to public health or animal health. Imports from Ethiopia are currently prevented on these grounds.

The checks to ensure that grain given as food aid reaches the people it is intended for are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development.