§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 411W whether he is aware that, under the present regulations, the certification of meat for human consumption is carried out by public health inspectors and authorised meat inspectors at charges of 18p for cattle, 5p for pigs and 4p for sheep ; whether, as under Common Market rulings and directives, such action will have to be carried out by veterinary officers under inter-Community trading regulations ; what rates will have to be paid ; and to what extent he estimates this will increase the cost of producing meat, chicken, etc.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartThe directive on red meat does not apply to production for the home market, which will continue to be inspected by public health inspectors and authorised meat inspectors. The directive on fresh poultry meat is due to be applied to the home market by February 1976 : this will require veterinary supervision of production, but it is too early to estimate what it will add to the cost.