§ Mr. LetwinTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what amount of beef is currently imported into the United Kingdom; from which countries; and what proposals he has to review those countries permitted to export beef to the United Kingdom. [15948]
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§ Mr. RookerThe information requested for the period September 1996 to August 1997 is set out in the table. All fresh meat imported into the UK, whether from other Member States or third countries, must have been produced in accordance with harmonised Community rules laid down in Council Directive 64/433/EEC and must comply with Community legislation governing imports into the European Union. In addition, national legislation prohibits the sale for human consumption of all bovine meat derived from bovines which, at the time of slaughter were more than 30 months old, other than those born, reared and slaughtered in the following third countries:
- Argentina
- Australia
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Mauritius
- Namibia
- New Zealand
- Paraguay
- Poland
- South Africa
- Swaziland
- Uruguay
- USA
- Zimbabwe.
National and Community legislation governing beef imports is kept under constant review.
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UK imports of beef September 1996 to August 1997 Country Tonnes Imports of bovine carcase meat Irish Republic 51,979 Netherlands 15,567 Uruguay 11,598 Argentina 9,130 Australia 8,034 Germany 7,457 Botswana 5,698 Zimbabwe 5,060 Namibia 4,792 New Zealand 4,517 France 4,471 Brazil 3,577 Belgium-Luxembourg 1,630 U.S.A. 1,520 Spain 1,080 Denmark 688 Other 1,069 Total 137,866 Imports of bovine offal Irish Republic 4,460 Netherlands 1,822 France 1,563 Germany 894 New Zealand 522 Australia 481 Other 1,224 Total 10,966 Imports of meat and offal of bovine animals, prepared and preserved Brazil 34,044 Argentina 14,697 Irish Republic 14,225 Uruguay 4,715 Mauritius 3,262
UK imports of beef September 1996 to August 1997 Country Tonnes Zimbabwe 2,316 Botswana 554 Netherlands 452 Other 1,362 Total 75,628 Total beef imported 224,459 Source
Business and Trade Statistics Ltd.
Data prepared by Stats (C and F) C, ESG.
All data are provisional and subject to amendment.
The above data include an estimate of below threshold trade, but excludes an estimate for non-response.