§ Mr. Peter Millsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to strengthen the health regulations for meat re-exported into this country from other countries; and what information he has on the origin and slaughter conditions of such meat.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesThe Imported Food Regulations 1968, operative from 1st August, continue and amplify the provisions of the Public Health (Imported Food) Regulations 1937 to 1948 by which meat may not be imported for human consumption, directly or via an intermediate country, unless it has an official certificate, formally recognised by me, of the legally competent authority where the meat was actually produced. The certificate must show the identity of the production establishment. I do not recognise any certificate unless I am satisfied, on the basis of my officers' reports, that the competent authority in question applies our detailed standards of hygiene, inspection and supervision.
Apart from these safeguards, no food may be imported for human consumption if it is found to be unfit, unsound or unwholesome on arrival here or if a competent authority in any country has found it to be unfit for food.