§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action his Department took with regard to the importation of 800 tonnes of contaminated soil from Holland at the Port of Mostyn, why the consignment was eventually allowed into the country and dumped near Rossett in Clwyd; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacGregor[holding answer 26 November 1987]: Imported soil must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate confirming freedom from plant pests and diseases. In this particular case, special information was obtained from the Dutch Plant Health Authority to ensure that the consignment came from an industrial site and that there was no risk of it being infected with Rhizomania, a soil-borne disease of sugarbeet. The Ministry's plant health and seeds inspectorate checked that the waste soil did not come into contact with agricultural land and that it was safely transported and buried.