§ Miss Maynardasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the standards of hygiene of imported poultry.
§ Mr. WigginThe recent European Commission inquiry has confirmed that there are differences in the way396W the directive relating to poultry meat hygiene is being implented. We are pressing hard for early adoption and application of additional Community rules for implementation of the directive throughout the Community on a uniform basis.
No imports of fresh poultry meat are permitted from third countries which do not satisfy the requirements of the European Community poultry hygiene directives.
§ Miss Maynardasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the volume of imports of poultry into the United Kingdom this year from EEC countries, and also from the United States of America.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe volume of imports of poultrymeat from European Community countries in the first 10 months of 1980, the most up-to-date figures available, was 25,203 tonnes; from the United States of America in the same period it was 3,594 tonnes.
§ Mr. Strangasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has had about the closures in the poultry industry; and what are the main reasons for the contraction in the industry.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithWe have received representations from a number of organisations and firms in the industry. Poultrymeat production this year is expected to show little change compared with production of 753,000 tonnes last year. Some firms have closed plants during this year due to a combination of factors, including levels of demand, of imports and of exports.
§ Mr. Strangasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received about unfair competition to the poultry industry from imports into the United Kingdom; and what action he has taken; what representations he has received about imports of poultry meat from North America; and if he has taken the matter up with the United States authorities.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithRepresentations have been received from a number of organisations fan firms in the industry. We have taken the matters up in Brussels and with the United States authorities as appropriate.
§ Mr. Strangasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions have taken place in the EEC Council of Ministers about unfair competition in the poultry sector.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithRecent discussions have concentrated on the sluicegate prices applicable to imports from third countries and differnces in the implementation of the Community hygiene directive.