Sheepmeat (Hansard, 20 May 1988)

§ Dr. David Clark
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will outline the procedures adopted following the discovery of sheep with bequerel readings in excess of 1,000 per kilogram to stop(a) the tested sheepmeat carcases concerned and (b) sheepmeat from carcases in the same batch entering the food chain.
601W

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
Since there have been no cases of the discovery in slaughterhouses of sheep for sale with readings in excess of 1,000 bq/kg it has not been necessary for any such procedures to be adopted.

§ Dr. David Clark
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what time elapsed from the sampling of sheep at slaughterhouses under the Food and Environment Act to the results becoming available.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
On average four days.

§ Dr. David Clark
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the monitoring of sheep at slaughterhouses under the Food and Environment Protection Act was introduced; and if this was by live monitoring.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
The monitoring of caesium levels in sheep at slaughterhouses was introduced on 28 May 1986. It serves as a check on the effectiveness of movement and slaughter restrictions and is undertaken on carcases.