§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he intends to exempt any United Kingdom slaughterhouses from the requirements of EEC export standards; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacleanThe EC Commission envisages that in the single market the rules which at present must be observed by slaughterhouses which engage in intra-Community trade should be extended to all plants throughout the Community, with the possibility of some minor exceptions only. The precise arrangements will depend, however, upon decisions still to be taken by the Council of Ministers.
I fully support the application of common standards to all plants and firmly believe that if any exceptions are to be permitted, for example for very small businesses trading locally, from some of the detailed structural requirements, they should be kept to a minimum and must not compromise hygiene standards.