§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to ensure that the poultry meat hygiene regulations in the United Kingdom required by EEC directive are not being applied more stringently and at greater cost than elsewhere in the European Community; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BishopAs full implementation of the EEC directive on poultry meat hygiene is not due until August next year, it is too early to try to establish how it will be applied in detail in other member States. I do not believe that the arrangements being introduced here are stricter than the directive intends.