§ Mr. Warrenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he is proposing to hold with interested parties following the publication by his Department of the document entitled "Proposed Meat Export (Hygiene and Meat Inspection) Regulations"; and what representations he has so far made to the European Commission about these proposals.
§ Mr. StrangInterested organisations have been invited to submit comments on these proposals to my Department by 15th August, and all the comments received will be fully considered before the regulations are laid before the House.
The regulations would give effect to EEC directive 64/433 (as amended) on health requirements for intra-Community trade in fresh meat. This directive was adopted in 1964 and accepted by the then Government during the negotiations leading up to United Kingdom accession to the EEC. It has been implemented up till now by administrative arrangements. My right hon. Friend the Minister has not made any representations to the Commission about the directive.