HC Deb 16 July 1990 vol 176 cc431-2W
Mr. Bill Walker

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of the proposals within the European Community to prevent the dumping of raspberry pulp from eastern European countries.

Mr. Curry

Discussions are taking place between the European Commission and the Polish and Yugoslav authorities. The Commission has undertaken to introduce differential prices for different qualities of semi-processed soft fruit and to improve monitoring to ensure that agreed the royal veterinary college and the Ministry's veterinary investigation service which suggested lead poisoning. These animals were among a group of 88 animals grazing a particular field. Blood test results for these cattle, are in the range of 0.06 to 5.63 micromo1/1. No milk is produced on this farm and tests carried out by the milk marketing board on general supplies from this area show no traces of lead. No animals have been taken for slaughter from this group during the period of these investigations. None the less, while further investigations are being undertaken to establish the cause of the problem, I have made a precautionary order under part I of the Food and Environment Protection Act to ensure that no meat from these animals is allowed to enter the food chain until it is shown to be safe for it to do so.