§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what investigations he has carried out to determine how many consignments of sheep and lambs have been illegally exported from England and Wales to the Irish Republic during the last 12 months. [153030]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 12 March 2001]Exports of sheep from England and Wales to another member state are required to be covered by export health certification under harmonised EU conditions. Under normal circumstances, additional border checks constitute an illegal impediment to trade. However, since the outbreak of foot and mouth disease, surveillance at Holyhead Port has been increased. We are not aware that there have been any illegally exported consignments nor have any been reported to MAFF by the Irish Authorities.
380WLess than 1 per cent. of sheep legally moved between Great Britain and Ireland as a whole went direct to the Republic of Ireland between 1 February 2000 and 31 March 2001. A significant proportion of trade to the Irish Republic goes via Northern Ireland. Suspicions of illegal trading of sheep, involving misleading certification, arose there last year; increased port surveillance and tracing of animals to their final destinations were put in place and the trade had in consequence virtually stopped by January 2001. Any evidence submitted to us of illegal consignments between England and Wales and the Republic of Ireland would be carefully investigated.