§ Sir Michael SpicerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish an assessment of the animal health and safety welfare standards in countries from which the United Kingdom imports frozen beef. [124675]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 5 June 2000]All consignments of fresh or frozen beef meat imported into the UK, whether from other EU member states or third countries, must have been produced in accordance with the harmonised Community rules laid down in Council Directive 64/433/EEC. Ensuring that these rules are adhered to is the responsibility of the European Commission and reports of their veterinary inspection visits to a number of these countries are available on their website at the following address
http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg24/health/vi/reports/index—en.htmlOn animal welfare, Article 8 of Council Directive 98/58/EC, which lays down minimum standards for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes, requires 620W the European Commission to submit a report on the comparison between animal welfare provisions in the Community and in non-member countries which supply the Community. We await the findings of this report with interest.