§ Mr. LeeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Brussels Agriculture Council held on 11 and 12 December.
§ Mr. GummerI represented the United Kingdom at this meeting together with my hon. Friend the Member for Skipton and Ripon (Mr. Curry), the Parliamentary Secretary in my Department.
The Council discussed a possible Community initiative on agriculture in the current GATT round. I emphasised the need for a constructive Community position, which would further the process of agricultural reform and the negotiations. Further discussions will now be held in the Foreign Affairs Council.
The Council reached agreement in principle on a directive laying down arrangements for veterinary checks on certain animal products. This contains satisfactory safeguards so that the dismantling of controls at the border does not significantly increase the risk of the spread of disease. Special safeguards are included, benefiting countries, such as the United Kingdom, that do not vaccinate against food and mouth disease or are free from swine fever. The directive will be implemented at a date which will be decided by the Council taking account of arrangements to be put in place establishing a uniform Community system governing imports from third countries.
Agreement in principle was also reached on a Council regulation specifying the level of checks member states must undertake on firms benefiting from payments under the guarantee section of the Community's farm fund. This should help to combat fraud.