§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many consignments of imported eggs have been impounded on the grounds of poor quality since 1 December 1988;
376W(2) how many consignments of imported eggs have been condemned by officials of his Department since 1 December 1988.
§ Mr. MellorIt is not practicable for port health authorities to impound or condemn any imported egg consignments because of the time needed by public health laboratories to produce confirmation test results.
The arrangements are that any positive findings are reported to the Department and the relevant producer country is then advised so that action can be taken to deal with the contamination at source.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those public health laboratories which participate in testing consignments of imported eggs.
§ Mr. MellorReports on tests on samples of imported eggs have so far been received from public health laboratories at Ashford, Hull, Ipswich and Norwich.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements he has agreed with port authorities for the testing of samples of imported eggs at public health laboratories.
§ Mr. MellorSince 4 April 1989 port health authorities have agreed to check as many consignments of imported eggs as practicable and to notify the Department where public health laboratory reports of contaminated eggs are received.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources he has made available to public health laboratories specifically to enable them to conduct tests on samples of consignments of imported eggs.
§ Mr. MellorFunding for public health laboratories involved with the testing of imported egg samples is contained within their overall resource allocation.