§ Mr. Ralph HowellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie) on 1 November,Official Report, column 210, what provisions exists for (a) following up on tests which prove positive for salmonella poisoning, (b) tracing the contaminated eggs back to their origin and (c) having the flocks from whence the contaminated imported eggs came either tested or tested and slaughtered;
(2) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie) on 1 November, Official Report, column 210, why no consignments of imported eggs have been destroyed;
(3) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie) on 1 November, Official Report, column 210, what constitutes a consignment of eggs; how long after the 60 eggs are removed from the consignment 416W for testing the test results are known; whether the consignment, having had 60 eggs removed for testing is then allowed to proceed and disperse its eggs to retail sellers before test results have been obtained; and what provisions exist for recalling or withdrawing the dispersed eggs from retailers' shelves if testing proves positive for salmonella contamination.
§ Mr. CurryNo consignments of imported eggs have been destroyed as a result of finding invasive salmonella contamination in a sample. It can take at least five days to test for and confirm invasive salmonella in a sample of eggs. It would, on present evidence, be an unjustified interference in trade to detain any consignment of eggs pending the outcome of a test.
A consignment of eggs is a quantity consigned by one exporter to one importer at one time and, typically, would be a container load.
We have taken up each of the six positive identifications of salmonella in imported eggs with the member states concerned. In doing so we have informed them of the identity of the authorised packing centre involved whenever possible. It is for each member state to decide on the action to be taken in its territory.