HC Deb 11 December 1989 vol 163 cc521-2W
Mrs. Gorman

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last reviewed the import penetration of the United Kingdom egg market; and on what figures his current estimate is based.

Mr. Curry

We monitor the trade position on the basis of monthly Customs and Excise data. In addition, we conduct an annual review of agriculture, the results of which are now published in the series "Agriculture in the UK". "Agriculture in the UK 1988", which was published early in 1989, covered the position to the end of last year. The results of the current review will be published in due course.

Mrs. Gorman

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether any eggs are imported to be sold in the United Kingdom without undergoing salmonella checks; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what tests for salmonella are required for (a) domestic and (b) imported eggs; and what are the reasons for any differences.

Mr. Curry

We are testing domestic flocks. Clearly we cannot do this for imports. But imported eggs are monitored for salmonella. When we find invasive salmonella in imports we take the case up with the member state concerned.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will exclude small-scale breeders of rare and fancy poultry breeds where eggs are not sold for human consumption from the provisions of his salmonella control measures; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maclean

Breeding flocks of less than 25 birds are excluded from the scope of the Poultry Breeding Flocks and Hatcheries (Registration and Testing) Order 1989. For flocks of 25 birds or more the order provides for exemption from some of the testing requirements. This provision may, depending on the circumstances, be applied to small flocks of rare breeds.