§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what reports(a) she and (b) Parliament receive from the (i) Ports Authority, (ii) HM Customs and Excise and (iii) Foods Standards Agency regarding the importing of illegal meat. [39262]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 5 March 2002]: We receive information on seizures of illegally imported animal products from all the enforcement agencies involved. This information is shared among enforcement authorities and kept on a DEFRA database. Reports are made to Parliament in response to Parliamentary Questions.
§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the interaction of the Ports Authority, HM Customs and Excise and the Foods Standards Agency in tackling illegal imports of meat. [39261]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 5 March 2002]: Since April last year initiatives on illegal imports have been co-ordinated by officials in DEFRA, working closely with other departments such as HM Customs and Excise and the Food Standards Agency, as well as the local authorities and port health authorities who are responsible for controls at ports and airports.
This joint approach has led to more effective information sharing and improved targeting of activity at ports and airports.
DEFRA is also holding a high level forum next month involving enforcement agencies, port and airport authorities airlines and other stakeholders, to consider the next steps for intensifying our efforts and to agree further priorities and action.
§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of meat imports are checked on entry to the UK; and if she will make a statement. [39263]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 28 February 2002]: All consignments of meat legally imported from third countries into the UK are subjected to a documentary check on the veterinary certification and an identity check to match the goods to certification. At least 50 per cent. of poultry and game meat and 20 per cent. of other meat imports are also given a physical check, which may include organoleptic checks, temperature checks and laboratory tests for pathogens or contaminants. Meat imported from other member states is not checked at the frontier but may be subjected to random checks at the point of destination.
§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions for importing illegal meat have been carried out in each of the last three years. [39368]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 1 March 2002]: HM Customs and Excise have prosecuted three people for offences under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) involving illegal meat imports. Two of these were convicted as a CITES offence and one was acquitted but convicted under a separate Animal Health charge.
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§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what new resources she is putting into inspections at ports and airports to track illegal meat imports. [39367]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 1 March 2002]: As part of a programme of action on illegal imports we are reviewing the appropriate level of inspection. However, currently responsibility for checks on illegal meat imports are the responsibility of the local or port health authority and it is for the appropriate local authority to deploy staff accordingly depending on the volume and nature of the products imported.
§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much(a) beef and (b)lamb is produced annually in the UK; what the annual consumption of these products in the UK is; how much of these products was imported in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [39260]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 28 February 2002]: Figures for beef and lamb/mutton combined (separate figures are not available for lamb) are provided in the table.
Thousand tonnes1 Home fed production Imported Consumption1 Beef 1996 710.4 169.1 732.4 1997 698.3 216.5 856.6 1998 699.5 151.9 858.2 1999 678.8 183.2 934.3 2000 705.9 196.6 915.0 Mutton and Lamb 1996 382.5 156.2 378.0 1997 350.8 151.7 359.6 1998 385.5 141.5 380.5 1999 402.7 137.1 386.9 2000 390.6 134.1 395.0 1 Dressed carcase weight Note:
Total domestic use; home fed production plus imports less exports net of stock.