§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has to restrict or ban the trade in horse, pony and donkey meat between the United Kingdom and other countries; and if he will make a statement on his assessment of the impact of the European single market on the trade in horse meat after 1992.
§ Mr. CurryWe have no proposals to restrict or ban the trade in horse, pony and donkey meat between the United Kingdom and other countries. Any such action would be contrary to article 34 of the treaty of Rome and thus illegal. The Commission's proposals in respect of the single European market contain no items specifically relating to trade in horse meat but envisage that the trade will continue after 1992.
The United Kingdom intends to press strongly in the EC negotiations on the welfare of live animals in transit for provisions which discourage the export of live horses and ponies from the United Kingdom for slaughter.