Meat and Bonemeal Exports (Hansard, 7 February 1990)

§ Mr. Ron Davies
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has issued any notice to countries which import meat and bonemeal from the United Kingdom.

§ Mr. Maclean
Countries determine whether or not to import meat and bonemeal from the United Kingdom and the conditions which apply to such trade on the basis of this country's health status, about which they are kept fully informed.

§ Mr. Ron Davies
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has given to other European Community member states on the risks to their livestock posed by the feeding of British meat and bonemeal.
709W

§ Mr. Maclean
Other member states of the European Community have been kept fully informed about BSE since it was identified as a new cattle disease, including its likely cause.

§ Mr. Ron Davies
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on restrictions in other European Community member states on the incorporation of meat and bonemeal into ruminant feeds.

§ Mr. Maclean
The Netherlands have imposed a ban on the feeding of ruminant-based meat and bonemeal to ruminants.

§ Mr. Ron Davies
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has imposed any restrictions on the importation of meat and bonemeal into the United Kingdom; and what regulations exist governing the incorporation of imported meat and bonemeal into United Kingdom livestock feed.

§ Mr. Maclean
On 1 May 1989 new measures were introduced under the Importation of Processed Animal Protein 1981 and the Importation of Animal Protein and Poultry Products 1980 (as amended) Orders which stengthened safeguards against the importation of animal disease, including salmonella. These included the provision of veterinary certification confirming treatment to destroy salmonellae where consignments have come from countries that have previously shown the presence of salmonellae. On arrival at British ports, consignments may be sampled and tested for salmonellae. Subsequent action is appropriate to the results obtained.
Ruminant-based meat and bonemeal whether domestically produced or imported, is banned from use in ruminant rations.