FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE AND MEAT IMPORTS

HL Deb 16 November 1967 vol 286 cc897-8WA

THE EARL OF MANSFIELD

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps are taken at the Ports to ensure that meat imported from the Continent is not infected with Foot-and-Mouth disease, in view of the fact that many previous outbreaks have been traced to insufficiently boiled "swill" made from scraps of such meat, and subsequently fed to pigs.

LORD BESWICK

All meat from Europe is subject to strict veterinary certification before export and this is checked at the port of entry by Customs Officers. We accept European supplies only from countries where the disease is under close control and the incidence low. Except from Norway, Denmark and Sweden, which are normally free from the disease, imports are on licence and the veterinary conditions are revised, or the licences revoked, at short notice if the disease position in the exporting country so requires.

House adjourned at a quarter before six o'clock.