§ 5. Mr. ConwayTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what tests are available to ensure that meat from cattle whose feed has been contaminated by lead is safe for human consumption.
§ Mr. GummerEvery animal going to slaughter which has eaten contaminated feed is tested and consumers can be fully assured that the meat will not enter the food chain unless it is safe for it to do so.
§ 18. Mr. Robert HicksTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current position regarding the lead-contaminated feed problem; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerWe have lifted restrictions from all 1,162 farms subject to milk controls and the orderly disposal of contaminated feed is proceeding as planned. Schemes are734W in operation to enable livestock to be removed from restricted farms as soon as that can be done without compromising the safety of the food chain.
60. Mr. Andy StewartTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what co-operation he received from the Dutch in dealing with the lead contamination of cattle feed.
§ Mr. GummerThe Dutch authorities alerted my officials on 1 November that a consignment of contaminated feed had been imported into the United Kingdom. Subsequently there was close liaison between Dutch officials and United Kingdom embassy staff in the Hague and between officials in London in our efforts to clarify the events leading to the contamination. A more detailed account will become available once the Dutch court case on this matter is concluded.