§ Lord Stanley of Alderleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will confirm that European Community member states have not imposed a ban on beef offals, meat on the bones and bone meal from the Republic of Ireland (similar to that applying to United Kingdom exports) despite confirmed cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy there; and, if so, what action they intend to take.
§ Baroness TrumpingtonThe incidence of BSE in the Republic of Ireland, which operates a slaughter policy similar to our own, is exceptionally low— 18 confirmed cases compared with over 10,000 in Britain. Such a low level of disease does not justify action against imports of beef and offals from Ireland, a view which is endorsed by the EC Commission and all other member states.