§ Lord Eltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What decisions have been made about the continuation of the subsidy for veterinary costs in export approved meat plants in view of the EC rules on meat inspection charges.
§ Baroness TrumpingtonThe Community rules on charges for meat inspection were adopted by the Council of Ministers in June 1988 in Decision 88/408/EEC and Directive 88/409/EEC. They must be brought into effect not later than 1st January 1991 and,inter alia, they prohibit the subsidisation of meat inspection costs except where the actual costs of inspection exceed specified standard charges.
In these circumstances, the scheme introduced in 1983 under which the Government meet the costs of veterinary supervision and certification in plants producing red meat, poultry meat, game meat and meat products to export standard (and also the cost of testing for trichinosis and residues when required by importing countries) will end on 31st December 1990. We shall be consulting interested parties on the new arrangements for meat inspection charges shortly.