§ Mr. JackTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reasons the cull ewe trade from the United Kingdom to France is restricted to four southern-based abattoirs. [47271]
Dr. John Cunningham[holding answer 29 June 1998]: Our recent proposals to amend the Specified Risk Material Regulations to allow export of ewe carcases with spinal cord intact were based on the French authorities' list of four premises in France which they were prepared to designate for the removal of spinal cord under their own controls on specified risk materials.
Revised proposals have now been issued for statutory consultation on the basis of a further list of seven premises which the French authorities have notified to us. These are:
Abattoir Municipal de Gap (SE France); Abattoir Municipal de Thiviers (SW France); Stemontoise D'Abbattage, Mont-de Marsan (SW France); Abattoir de Mantes-la-Jolie (near Paris); Socopa a Coutances (Normandy); Abattoir Public d'Oloron (SW France); Abattoir SVA a Vitre (NW France).