HC Deb 01 December 1947 vol 445 cc13-4W
58. Mr. Hurd

asked the Minister of Agriculture if his scientific advisers are completely satisfied that the import restrictions on poultry are effectively preventing the further introduction of fowl pest infection from the Continent.

Mr. T. Williams

There must always be some risk in importing poultry carcases from countries where fowl pest is known to exist, but my advisers are satisfied that the present arrangement, by which only eviscerated carcases (with head and feet removed) are imported from Europe effectively reduces the risk to a minimum. There is no evidence that any outbreak of fowl pest in Great Britain has been caused by imported poultry from Europe since the imports have been confined to eviscerated birds.