§ Mrs. Ann WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she next intends to meet representatives of the British Poultry Council to discuss levels of imports of turkey meat from competitor nations; what assessment she has made of domestic market conditions for domestic turkey producers; and if she will make a statement on the health and hygiene standards of turkey meat imported into the United Kingdom. [46400]
§ Mr. MorleyThere are currently no plans to meet the British Poultry Council to discuss this specific issue, although there has been frequent contact with officials on this and other issues.
The EU turkey market has been oversupplied for a number of years and the UK industry is to be congratulated on its past voluntary efforts to improve the market situation by reducing production. It is also pleasing to see that the traditional farm fresh turkey market enjoyed a prosperous 2001, with most birds selling out by Christmas. A surge in production in a number of member states has recently depressed prices throughout the EU, but Italian and French producers have voluntarily destroyed large numbers of hatching eggs in order to help bring the market back into better balance.
All consignments of fresh poultrymeat imported into the UK from other EU member states must have been produced in accordance with the harmonised Community rules laid down in Council Directive 71/118/EEC (as amended). Imports from third countries must have been produced to standards at least equivalent to those in the Directive. Among other things, this Directive sets out the licensing, structural and veterinary supervision requirements to be applied in abattoirs, cutting plants and cold stores.
Ensuring that all member states comply with their Community obligations in properly implementing and applying the Directive is the responsibility of the European Commission, whose Food and Veterinary Office carries out regular programmes of inspection visits to all member states. The Food and Veterinary Office are also responsible for carrying out inspections in the third countries from which fresh meat is imported into the Community.
All consignments of fresh poultrymeat imported from third countries are subject to veterinary inspection on entering the EU to ensure that conditions of import have been complied with and to ensure that they have remained in a satisfactory condition during transport. In line with Community rules, random spot checks at destination may be carried out on consignments of fresh meat imported into the UK from other EU member states.
§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the(a)economic and (b)welfare consequences of the use of levels of carbon dioxide exceeding 30 per cent. concentration of the gas mixture for poultry gassing. [46378]
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§ Mr. MorleyThe Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 (WASK) limit the concentration of carbon dioxide in gas mixtures to a maximum of 30 per cent. The limit was based on behavioural research studies in which the aversiveness to poultry of various concentrations of carbon dioxide was investigated. The research indicated that the 30 per cent. limit provided the best balance between reduced aversiveness to birds while guaranteeing a rapid loss of brain function. Given that, on welfare grounds, the concentration of carbon dioxide was limited to 30 per cent. no economic assessment of higher concentrations has been made.
However, recent developments in the industry have shown that gas mixtures comprising nitrogen and reduced levels of carbon dioxide produce economic benefits both in terms of reduced operating costs and reduced maturation times. In addition these mixtures are less aversive to birds.
Detailed neurophysiological work is currently under way to assess the effects on poultry of a variety of gas mixtures (including carbon dioxide) at varying concentrations.