§ 28. Mr. Colin ShepherdTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has had with the European Community Commission over the proposals for harmonised animal health rules in respect of both intra-Community trade and imports from third countries.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonI met Commissioner MacSharry on 20 June. I said that, in the context of the single market, the Government supported the Commission's objective of achieving a uniformly high animal health status throughout the Community and that we also agreed on the need for common high standards for imports from third countries. I said that our view552W remained that until serious diseases such as foot and mouth disease were eradicated, effective controls on movements of animals and animal products from affected parts of the Community to parts which are free would be required to prevent disease spread, including an appropriate level of checking by member states of destination and quarantine where necessary.