§ Mr. Hicksasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the source of the imported diseased pigmeat that led to outbreaks of classical swine fever in the United Kingdom has been established; and what action he proposes taking.
§ Mrs. FennerIt has not been possible to identify the exact source of the imported pigmeat products which investigations suggest caused the recent outbreaks of classical swine fever.
We have written to the Agriculture Commissioner in the European Commission to underline the need for urgent action to control the disease. In particular we have pressed for more stringent measures to stamp out disease outbreaks and for tighter control of movements and trade. Officials are following up these matters within the European Community. An urgent reappraisal of the processing needed to overcome the survival and infectivity of the virus in pigmeat products is underway.
§ Mr. Hicksasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those EEC countries that use vaccination for the purpose of elimination of classical swine fever; if he is satisfied with this method in respect of those countries' exports of pigmeat into the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. FennerAll member states except the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Luxembourg and Denmark have in recent years used vaccination as one aspect of their programme for the eradication of swine fever.
The Community's objective is the eradication of the disease and the ending of vaccination in all member states; we support this. In the meantime imports of fresh pigmeat are not permitted from areas of the Community where vaccination is practised.