§ Charlotte AtkinsTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what tests are carried out on imported meat to ensure that substances banned for use on United Kingdom meat are identified. [25043]
§ Mr. RookerMember states are required to test meat for a wide range of veterinary drugs, including banned substances and are responsible for implementing and policing the relevant directives in respect of their own national production. Veterinary experts from the Commission may make on-the-spot checks to ensure that they are being uniformly applied in all member states.
Any third country wishing to export fresh meat to the European Union must submit residue testing plans to the Commission. These describe the residue testing programme to be undertaken in respect of their meat production and must provide guarantees which are at least equivalent to the requirements of the Community on EC producers in respect of the banned substances.
Any third country which permits the use of growth promoting hormones, banned in the European community since 1988, is required to guarantee that no animals and no meat coming from animals to which they have been administered will be exported to the Community. Imports must be certified accordingly, and Commission inspectors verify compliance with all the requirements when they carry out periodic checks on third-country slaughterhouses authorised to produce meat for export to the Community.
351WPort health authorities, or local authorities in their absence, are responsible under directive 90/675/EEC for checking 1 per cent. of all imported meat and meat products for residues of veterinary medicines and the banned substances.
§ Charlotte AtkinsTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what checks have been carried out on imported beef and sheep meat to ensure it meets United Kingdom health standards since 1 January; how much imported meat has been denied access; and what was its origin. [25041]
§ Mr. RookerAll consignments of animal products imported directly into the United Kingdom from outside the European Union are subject to checks at designated border inspection posts, including checks on the certification requirements on specified risk materials introduced under the Specified Risk Materials Order 1997. Single market rules only permit random spot checks at destination on animal products traded within the Community. Consistent with those rules, a daily sample of randomly selected consignments fro EU member states are subject to documentary checks by Ministry officials for conformity with the new unilateral controls relating to specified risk material.
Data on the number, type and results of veterinary checks on beef consignments at border inspection posts, most of which are operated by local authorities, and the number of outcome of the random documentary spot-checks on beef consignments arriving from or via other EU member states are being collated on a monthly basis from 1 January 1998, the date when the Specified Risk Materials Order came into force. No data are yet available. They will be published in the Ministry's BSE enforcement bulletin which is placed in the Library of the House.