§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) why, in view of the fact that insufficient veterinary inspectors are available to implement EEC regulations in respect of poultry processing plants, he is applying these regulations.
(2) how many authorised meat inspectors and environmental health inspectors have so far attended courses to enable them to serve as official veterinary surgeons for the purpose of inspecting and passing poultrymeat as fit for human consumption in accordance with EEC regulations; how many such official veterinary inspectors he estimates will be required to conduct full inspections from the date on which the latest EEC regulations will apply in August; how far local authorities in England and Wales are expected to fall short of the number of staff required; and why environmental health officers cannot continue to be employed to do this work.
§ Mr. StrangThe implementation of the Poultrymeat (Hygiene) Regulations 1976 is the responsibility of local authorities who are making the necessary preparations to set up the poultrymeat inspection service which is due to be in operation by 15 August this year. I cannot estimate the number of official veterinary surgeons who will be required by 15 August since local authorities are at present considering their requirements in the light of recent guidance from my Department. It is also too early to estimate what, if any, shortfall there may be. 545W However, over 150 private veterinary surgeons have undergone training and are suitable for designation as official veterinary surgeons under the regulations. Further training courses have already been arranged.
The training which some authorised meat inspection and environmental health officers have undergone is directed towards qualifying them to assist official veterinary surgeons rather than to serve as official veterinary surgeons themselves. Fifty two authorised meat inspectors and 77 environmental health officers have completed such training.
§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) why he has put forward proposals that poultry meat may be sold after 15 August even though it may not have a valid health mark placed upon it;
(2) why after next August he is proposing that local authorities accept responsibility for allowing poultrymeat to be sold that has not been fully inspected to ascertain that it is fit for human consumption.
§ Mr. StrangExemptions from some of the requirements of the Poultrymeat (Hygiene) Regulations 1976 will continue to apply after 15 August 1979. The regulations provide that while any of the exemptions remain in operation it shall not be an offence to sell any poultrymeat for human consumption in England and Wales if it does not bear the health marking. My right hon. Friend the Minister has no proposals for altering these provisions.