§ Mr. LevittTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many incidents of spinal cord and other banned meat products have been detected in imported meat in the last three years. [46790]
§ Yvette CooperSince 1 January 2001 there have been 29 incidents involving the finding of specified risk material (SRM) in meat imported into the UK, of which 28 involved spinal cord. Prior to 1 October 2001, SRM cases were not recorded in a way that distinguished them from other breaches of import controls.
Government records of breaches of import controls relate to all products of animal origin detained at border inspection posts, and do not distinguish meat and meat products from other products of animal origin. Since 1 January 2000 there have been a total of 1,205 such breaches. These cases involved a variety of failings, including the absence of the necessary health mark, or the general deterioration of the meat during unsatisfactory means of transportation. Records prior to 2000 are not available.
The Food Standards Agency advises that the vast majority of consignments of meat imported into the UK fully meet the public health requirements for importation.