§ Mr. Tom Coxasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what information he has on the present number of unlicensed slaughterhouses in the United Kingdom; and what checks are made on such premises;
(2) what meat slaughtered in the United Kingdom s not subject to inspection before it is sold to the general public.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonIn Great Britain all red meat slaughterhouses are subject to licensing by local authorities, other than those operated by local authorities themselves. All red meat, excluding game, for sale for human consumption is routinely inspected.
No central record is kept of the number of unlicensed poultry slaughterhouses. All premises where meat is produced for sale for human consumption are subject to checks by local authority officials who are responsible for ensuring that appropriate hygiene and welfare legislative requirements are being met.
Officials of the Agriculture Departments monitor enforcement.