HC Deb 05 May 1965 vol 711 cc187-8W
Mr. Peter Walker

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures have been taken to see that chicks imported from Denmark are not carriers of disease.

Mr. John Mackie

All chicks imported from Denmark have to be accompanied by a veterinary certificate signed by a veterinary officer of the Government of Denmark to the effect that the flocks of origin are free from fowl cholera, have been free from fowl pest for six months, and have not been within fifteen miles of any premises on which fowl pest has existed during that period.

For chicks of domestic fowls and turkeys, a certificate must also be provided that within the previous six months the flocks of origin had been tested for bacillary white diarrhoea and fowl typhoid, with negative results, and have had no subsequent contact with untested or positive birds: the flocks must also be certified free from contagious bron- chitin, infectious laryngo-tracheitis, tuberculosis, fowl pox and fowl paralysis.

I am satisfied that these conditions provide adequate safeguards against the introduction of poultry diseases from Denmark.