§ Mr. GillTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of standards of meat inspection carried out in other EU countries. [57725]
§ Mr. RookerAll fresh meat produced in the EU which is intended to be sold for human consumption must be produced in accordance with EU harmonised hygiene rules. Amongst other things these rules require full ante-mortem and post-mortem checks by official
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Rates of hill livestock compensatory allowance 1976–98 £ Severely Disadvantaged Area Disadvantaged Area Year Rate per cow (at 1998 prices) Higher rate ewe (at 1998 prices) Lower rate ewe (at 1998 prices) Rate per cow (at 1998 prices) Rate per ewe (at 1998 prices) 1976 29.00 118.59 3.60 14.72 2.85 11.65 — — — — 1977 29.00 102.37 3.60 12.71 2.85 10.06 — — — — 1978 29.00 94.56 3.60 11.74 2.85 9.29 — — — — 1979 29.00 83.37 4.10 11.79 2.85 8.19 — — — — 1980 35.00 85.30 5.50 13.40 4.25 10.36 — — — — 1981 42.50 92.58 6.25 13.61 4.25 9.26 — — — — 1982 44.50 89.26 6.25 12.54 4.25 8.52 — — — — 1983 44.50 85.32 6.25 11.98 4.25 8.15 — — — — 1984 44.50 81.29 6.25 11.42 4.25 7.76 — — — — 1985 54.50 93.85 6.25 10.76 4.25 7.32 22.25 38.32 2.12 3.65 1986 54.50 90.75 6.75 11.24 4.50 7.49 27.25 45.37 2.25 3.75 1987 54.50 87.14 6.75 10.79 4.50 7.20 27.25 43.57 2.25 3.60 1988 54.50 83.06 6.75 10.29 4.50 6.86 27.25 41.53 2.25 3.43 1989 54.50 77.06 6.75 9.54 4.50 6.36 27.25 38.53 2.25 3.18 1990 54.50 70.39 7.50 9.69 4.50 5.81 27.25 35.19 2.25 2.91 1991 63.30 77.23 8.75 10.68 4.90 5.98 31.65 38.62 2.45 2.99 1992 63.30 74.45 8.75 10.29 4.90 5.76 31.65 37.23 2.45 2.88 1993 63.30 73.31 6.50 7.53 3.60 4.17 31.65 36.65 2.86 3.31 1994 47.50 53.68 5.75 6.50 3.00 3.39 23.75 26.84 2.44 2.76 1995 47.50 51.91 5.75 6.28 3.00 3.28 23.75 25.95 2.44 2.67 1996 47.50 50.67 5.75 6.13 3.00 3.20 23.75 25.33 2.65 2.83 1997 197.50 100.84 5.75 5.95 3.00 3.10 169.75 72.14 2.65 2.74 1998 47.50 47.50 5.75 5.75 3.00 3.00 23.75 23.75 2.65 2.65 1 Rate increased as a result of BSE-related special aid veterinarians. We do not have specific information on the standard of meat inspection in other EU countries. It is for the competent authority in each Member State to ensure that such rules are followed in practice and it is the European Commission's responsibility to ensure that individual Member States comply with their Community obligations. The Commission's Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) carries out regular programmes of inspection visits to all Member States. If necessary, the Commission will take infraction proceedings against those Member States whose arrangements are considered inadequate. Reports of FVO visits are published on the Commission's website on the Internet (hhtp://europa.eu.int/comm/dg24/health/vi/reports). A list of the relevant reports will appear each month in MAFF's Meat Hygiene Enforcement Report and BSE Enforcement Bulletin.