§ 33. Mr. Torneyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of the health precautions being taken at ports of entry of ultra heat treated and sterilised milk and pasteurised cream being imported from abroad to the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. JoplingImports of ultra heat treated and sterilised milk and frozen pasteurised cream are subject to the public health safeguards prescribed in the Importation of Milk Regulations 1983. Consignments must be brought in at authorised places of entry and must be accompanied by a public health certificate signed by an official of a competent authority in the exporting member state and relating to the condition of milk before processing, to the heat treatment process itself and to the end product. Imports are also subject to sampling and testing, tests being carried out both at the ports and in Ministry laboratories. Consignments not complying with the regulations must be re-exported, and if the importer fails to re-export they may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of. Imports must in addition comply with licensing and certification requirements prescribed under animal health legislation.