§ Mr. WyattTo ask the Secretary of State for Health who carries out tests for furazolidone in turkeys impounded at border inspection posts in the EU; whether such tests are conducted on all poultry imported from Brazil; how much such tests cost; how many birds for food were imported into this country from Brazil in each year since 1997; and how many tested positive for furazolidone. [87118]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 16 December 2002]: The Food Standards Agency set up a testing system for nitrofurans in poultry meat from Brazil. Staff at the border inspection posts are responsible for operation of the system. All consignments of poultry meat from Brazil must be analysed. The cost of the tests varies among the laboratories which carry out the testing. The cost per sample varies from £220 to £600. We have no information on how many birds have been imported each year from Brazil since 1997. Since the testing regime was introduced in October 2002, 192 consignments have been analysed and none have tested positive for furazolidone.