§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list draft EEC regulations on cell counts in milk; what discussions he has had with the National Institute for Research in Dairying and the Central Veterinary Laboratory to assess the effect of these regulations on the control of mastitis; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartThe draft Council regulation concerning the health and veterinary inspection requirements, which must be met by untreated whole milk as a raw material for the preparation of heat treated milk and its derivatives, contains provision for cell counts in milk. This draft is at present under consideration in a Council working party.
589WMy Department has consulted the Central Veterinary Laboratory and the National Institute for Research in Dairying. We shall continue to keep in touch with these bodies.