§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 15 January (WA 149), how many of the eight meat plants affected have rectified their controls; how many of the eight have resumed exports to the United Kingdom; and what special extra inspections are in place in the United Kingdom to check their output. [HL2519]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)According to information provided to the Food Standards Agency by the competent authority in each of the member states concerned, the extent of the enhanced supervision of curtailment of operations at the eight affected meat plants was as set out in the following table.
Name and address of Plant Nature of Action taken by the Member State competent authority Liffey Meats Ballyjamesduff Co Cavan Republic of Ireland Slaughter for human consumption suspended on 2 February 2001. Slaughter for human consumption re-authorised on 8 February 2001. NFZ Norddeutsche Fleischzentrale GmbH Kalkar Germany Licence suspended on 8 March 2001 and restored on 12 March 2001. Gausepohl Fleisch GmbH, Bakum Germany Licence suspended on 26 June 2001 and restored on 2 July 2001. Mueller Fleisch GmbH, Birkenfeld Germany Licence suspended on 7 March 2001 and restored on 8 March 2001. Gross-und Versandschlachterei VOSDING GmbH & Co.Kg, Wilhelmshaven Germany Licence suspended on 30 March 2001 and restored on 3 April 2001. Brada's Vleeschbedrijf BV, Leevwarden Netherlands Licence suspended on 6 to 9 March 2001 and restored on 12 March 2001. Danish Crown The Skive, Brarupsgade 6 7800 Skive Denmark Plant ordered to re-inspect all cuts of meat for spinal cord. Plant to introduce own checks and demonstrate their efficiency to Danish Food and Veterinary Adminstration. Industria Carni SNC, Carema, Torino Italy Licence suspended on 22 March 2001 and restored on 30 March 2001. Plants whose licences have been restored are free to supply meat throughout the European Union single 20WA market. Information is not available concerning which plants are currently supplying the United Kingdom market.
Beef imported into the UK from any of the affected plants is not subject to extra inspection since the Food Standards agency has given instructions that all consignments of imported carcass beef arriving at licensed premises in the UK should be checked. These checks are carried out by the Meat Hygiene Service in Great Britain and by the Veterinary Service of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland. Local authorities have also been advised to conduct checks on imported beef arriving at meat products or meat preparation plants under their supervision.