Poultry Meat Inspection

HC Deb 03 July 1978 vol 953 cc15-6W

Mr. Torrey

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Fod whether other EEC countries collect charges for poultry meat inspection through a central Government tax or a tax levied through local authorities; and if EEC countries recover cost on a uniform basis or not.

Mr. Strang

We have only limited information on the extent to which charges are made for poultry meat inspection in other EEC countries and on how such charges are made. It is apparent,

Mr. Strang

Total imports into the United Kingdom in the last five years were as follows:—

however, that charging practices vary from country to country.

Mr. Torney

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how costs of recruiting and training poultry meat inspectors, and of inspectors under the Poultrymeat Hygiene Regulations will be recovered before August 1979 and after August 1979.

Mr. Strang

For the phasing-in period for poultrymeat inspection, due to be completed in August 1979, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mr. Corbett) on 30th June. After the service is established, it is intended that the cost of maintaining it should be covered in the charges made by local authorities for inspection.