HC Deb 01 November 1989 vol 159 cc212-3W
Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many successful prosecutions his Department has initiated following the discovery of cattle with hormone implants.

Mr. Curry

Two farmers have been prosecuted following the discovery of cattle with hormone implants and convictions were achieved in both cases.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the monitoring procedures whereby samples of animals at point of slaughter are taken and tested for hormone implants; by whom the sampling and testing is carried out; and what numbers and proportion of animals are tested.

Mr. Curry

Under the terms of the Animals and Fresh Meat (Examination for Residues) Regulations 1988 (S.I. 1988/848) animals are sampled by staff of the state veterinary service for veterinary residues including evidence of illegal hormone implantation. All samples for hormone analysis are forwarded to the Ministry's central veterinary laboratory. Each year some 3,700 samples are collected at slaughterhouses in Great Britain. These comprise about 0.15 per cent. of those fattening bovine animals which are slaughtered and 1,300 samples from cull cows, sheep and pigs.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the most recent figures available on the proportion of cattle sampled which carry traces of hormone implants.

Mr. Curry

In the course of routine monitoring for illegal hormone use a total of 1,296 samples were taken from cattle at slaughterhouses in Great Britain between January and June of this year. 0.3 per cent. of these were found to be positive.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the existence of hormone implant stocks in other European Community countries.

Mr. Curry

None. I am not aware that such information is collected.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps his Department is taking to ensure that live cattle or beef imports have not been subjected to artificial hormone treatment.

Mr. Curry

Under Community monitoring arrangements (Directive 86/469/EEC) responsibility for hormone testing of cattle and beef entering intra-Community trade rests with the Member State of origin. In the case of supplies from third countries the Community has obtained assurances that production is subject to controls equivalent to those operating in the Community.

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