§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if the provisions in chapter 1 of annexe 11 of the draft regulation (PVET/2508) which prohibits the killing of wild game in an unacceptable manner or a manner which will cause unnecessary suffering, fall to be considered by majority vote or by unanimity; and what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on these proposals;
(2) if the provisions in EEC draft regulations which require game carcasses to be transported in refrigerated trucks to official game processing houses fall to be considered by majority vote or by unanimity; what is the voting procedure for the proposal that game should be inspected within 24 hours of death; and what are the categories of game covered by these particular proposals;
(3) what assessment he has made of the consequences of field sports in the United Kingdom of the EEC Council draft regulation on game meat and rabbit meat; what is the position of Her Majesty's Government on the draft with particular reference to the post-mortem examinations by official veterinarians of deceased game and rabbits; what 746W stage has been reached in the discussion of these proposals; and whether they fall to be considered by majority vote or by unanimity;
(4) what estimate he has made of the number of game covered by the EEC directive which are shot each year; what is the EEC description or definition of game; and what he estimates would be the additional provision of veterinary surgeons required to implement the proposals.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThe document referred to is a working draft for a proposed Council regulation on game and rabbit meat for human consumption. The regulation would be made under article 43 of the Treaty of Rome which provides for decisions to be taken by qualified majority vote.
The draft provision on refrigerated transport would apply to all wild game but only where considered necessary by national authorities. The provision for inspection within 24 hours of shooting would also apply to all wild game although longer periods for eviscerated game may be permitted. Exemptions from these provisions and from other requirements of the measure are proposed for game sold in small quantities by the sportsman to the consumer or through sales points which are inspected regularly.
The proposed regulation would apply to all game animals and birds killed for sale for human consumption and which are not already subject to Community legislation.
Official statistics of the numbers of wild game animals and birds shot each year in the United Kingdom are not collected but estimates made by the game industry are as follows:
Number deer 80,000 pheasants 12,000,000 duck 1,000,000 pigeon 10,000,000 partridge 500,000 grouse 500,000 These figures include large quantities of game consumed or given away by sportsmen which would not be affected by the draft proposal.
Discussions are still at an early stage and it is too early to make an estimate of the veterinary or other resources which might be required. The Commission is well aware of our view that the present proposals do not take adequate account of the circumstances under which wild game meat is produced. We have already secured some important improvements and will seek to ensure that measures which may be adopted to remove obstacles to trade within the single market do not place unnecessary burdens on game interests in this country.