§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received calling for pork and pork products sold in United Kingdom stores from 1 January 1999 to conform to UK standards set by his Department, with particular reference to(a) bacon, (b) ham, (c) gammon, (d) pork pies, (e) sausages and (f) other cooked and processed meats. [61160]
§ Mr. RookerWe have received a number of representations, both from representative organisations and from individual pig producers. At a meeting earlier this month, the major retailers voluntarily gave the following assurances on sourcing to my right hon. Friend the Minister
own label fresh pork, bacon, ham, sausages and pork pies will come from stall and tether and MBM free systems. This assurance already applies to fresh pork and bacon, and is in the process of being extended to cover ham, sausages and pork pies; and,they will not sell imported fresh meat processed or packaged in the UK under a British label.The major retailers also told my right hon. Friend that they were doing further work to develop their policies.
I am sure that these undertaking will be welcomed by the British pigmeat industry.