§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the adequacy of time spent by local veterinary inspectors in inspecting animals destined for export to ensure that they are fit to travel as required by the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997; and if he will make a statement. [13931]
§ Mr. RookerLocal Veterinary Inspectors, as veterinary surgeons, must use their professional judgment in ensuring that sufficient time is given to assessing the fitness of animals to travel. The State Veterinary 341W Inspectors audit their procedures to ensure that the proper standards are maintained. In addition, for export health certification purposes, the Department will be producing clearer instruction for Local Veterinary Inspectors on what an inspection should comprise. It is proposed that this will include a benchmark for the length of time an inspection ought to take, according to the different circumstances which may prevail.