§ Mr. John Wellsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he can now announce the result of recent 445W negotiations to facilitate entry of British breeding cattle into France; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Anthony StoddartYes. I am glad to say that the French authorities have agreed that British cattle, of breeds which they have not yet recognised, can now be admitted into France when ordered by French buyers, and subject to the usual Customs and veterinary regulations. However, where cattle are exported to France and sold to a French owner under these arrangements, neither the bulls nor their progeny, pure or crossed, can be used either for natural or artificial mating with cows or heifers belonging to other owners; nor can they be sold within French territory as an officially recognised breeding stock. They and their progeny, be they pure or crossed, can however be sold to other farmers, subject to the same restrictions on use for breeding.
The French authorities have also agreed to make it easier for British cattle to be shown at their "Salon International de 1'Agriculture" in Paris.
Discussions are proceeding on the question of trial programmes which could lead towards formal French recognition of British beef breeds.
The National Cattle Breeders' Association and the British Agricultural Export Council have welcomed the arrangements as a helpful advance, pending the development of any wider EEC provisions for intra-Community trade in livestock for breeding.