§ Baroness Blatchasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why a total ban on imports from South Africa was not imposed when information of an outbreak of the pan-Asian Strain of foot and mouth disease was known. [HL1412]
§ Baroness HaymanWe were advised by the European Commission that on 21 September 2000 the South African authorities had declared 16 foot and mouth controlled areas in the Kwa-Zulu-Natal Province and introduced a prohibition on exports of animals and animal products from those areas. The Commission had asked for further information to enable a decision to be taken on whether Community safeguard measures would be necessary. At the Standing Veterinary Committee meeting held on 3 to 4 October 2000, a decision was adopted which added the 16 areas to the existing South African foot and mouth disease control area from which fresh meat may not be exported to the Community. On learning that foot and mouth disease had spread outside the revised control area, we took the decision to impose a South Africa wide import ban.