§ 77. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture why he has considered it necessary, if the essential disease safe guards are observed, to bar the free importation from the Continent of Landrace pigs for breeding purposes; and whether he will review this policy.
§ Sir T. DugdaleUnder the Diseases of Animals Act, I am empowered in general to make an order allowing importations of live animals from the Continent and elsewhere only if they are required for exceptional purposes. Whatever precautions are taken, every importation of live animals involves some risk of importing disease, and for this reason, even when the exceptional purpose has been established, imports of live animals must be restricted to what is necessary to meet essential needs. I am not, therefore, able to allow free importation, though I am prepared to review, in due course, the case for a further limited import.