§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he proposes to assist the producers of mature beef; and if he will make a statement. [28405]
422W
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesMy right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food said in his statement on 16 April,Official Report, columns 513–29, that arrangements were needed to allow back on the market meat from those breeds which often do not mature until after 30 months. Comments have now been invited from interested organisations on proposals to establish a voluntary mature beef assurance scheme. Under these proposals, those specialist beef herds where no cases of BSE have occurred would be able to sell cattle over 30 months for human consumption purposes. It is intended that they would exempt from the restriction in the Beef (Emergency Control) Order 1996.