§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent additional precautions have been taken to protect against the importation into the United Kingdom of horses infected with equine viral arteritis from third countries.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe state veterinary service will increase the level of post-import testing of stallions imported from third countries. All those giving seropositive results will be re-exported to their country of origin.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment she has made of compliance with the procedures governing the import of equidae from Poland over the last two years.
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§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe compliance with either Community or, in their absence, national rules in respect of the import of live animals from third countries is kept under continuous review.
Since June 1991 a small number of horses has been re-exported to Poland following seropositive test results for EVA. The matter was taken up with the Polish veterinary authorities which were reminded of our import requirements.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence her Department has as to the number of occasions over the last five years on which measures designed to protect the United Kingdom from the importation of equine viral arteritis have not been complied with.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe Department has evidence of 10 occasions during the last five years when measures designed to prevent the introduction of equine viral arteritis have not been compiled with.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on the protection offered under article 20(2) of EC directive 90/426/EEC in respect of equidae imported into the United Kingdom, in circumstances where it is known that a third country has failed to comply fully with the conditions set out in the directive.
§ Mr. Gillian ShephardArticle 20 of directive 90/426/EEC was revoked by directive 91/496/EEC laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from third countries. The latter permits member states to require, as appropriate, the detention in quarantine or isolation, or the slaughter or re-export of any animal which is found to be diseased or suspected of being diseased, or which does not fully meet the import requirements laid down in Community or national import rules; or where it is established that the exporting third country has not complied with the requirements provided for in Community or national rules.