§ Mr. Coombsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to prevent cross-Channel shoppers introducing serious animal and plant diseases to the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonI reminded cross-Channel Christmas shoppers in a message issued in October of the risks of introducing serious animal and plant diseases into the country and appealed to them to consider the position of Britain's farmers and growers. There are strict limits on788W the amounts of meat and plant material which overseas shoppers may bring back, and some products are totally prohibited. We take every opportunity of publicising the need for the public to follow the rules and so avoid disease risk to our animals and crops.