Poultry Meat

HC Deb 16 February 1981 vol 999 cc69-70W

Mrs. Knight

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the less strict enforcement of the European Economic Community poultry meat hygiene regulations in other countries of the Community, he will amend his Department's guidelines on the regulations to ensure fairness of competition in trade in poultry meat.

Mr. Wiggin

It is my intention that levels of inspection in this country should be adjusted if necessary to those which all member States undertake to apply. Any such action would be premature until we know what standards all other member states are prepared to enforce. Negotiations in Brussels will begin shortly.

Mr. Cryer

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to exclude poultry meat imports which do not comply with United Kingdom standards or which receive any element of subsidy from other European Economic Community member States.

Mr. Wiggin

We are seeking to achieve this result by securing early agreement in Brussels on standards and on methods of charging which all member States will undertake to apply. Port health authorities in this country have powers to reject individual consignments which, on inspection, prove to be unfit for human consumption. A general ban against imports from a particular member State for the reasons indicated by the hon. Member would not be in accordance with the Treaty of Rome.

Mr. Cryer

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the total imports, by value and weight, of processed poultry from other European Economic Community countries in 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980.

Mr. Wiggin

Total imports into the United Kingdom, by value and weight, of processed poultry from other European Community countries under the common customs tariff headings 02.02 and 16.02 in 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980 were as follows:

	1977	1978	1979	1980
Value (£000)	9,223	20,934	33,443	34,017
Weight (tonnes)	10,101	14,389	24,840	26,184

Mr. Cryer

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek to ensure that structural standards of inspection systems for poultry processors operate uniformly throughout the European Economic Community.

Mr. Wiggin

That is our objective.