Milk Powder (Hansard, 24 October 1990)

Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what representations he has made to Jordan about the sales of milk powder of United Kingdom origin; whether Jordan has accepted that there is no risk to human health from United Kingdom milk products; what are the prospects for sales of milk powder in Jordan; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what representations he has made to Turkey about sales of milk powder of United Kingdom origin; whether Turkey has accepted that there is no risk to human health from United Kingdom milk products; what are the prospects for sales of milk powder in Turkey; and if he will make a statement;

(3) what representations he has made to Egypt about sales of milk powder of United Kingdom origin; whether Egypt has accepted that there is no risk to human health from United Kingdom milk products; what are the prospects for sales of milk powder in Egypt; and if he will make a statement;

(4) what representations he has made to Tunisia about sales of milk powder of United Kingdom origin; whether Tunisia has accepted that there is no risk to human health from United Kingdom milk products; what are the prospects for sales of milk powder in Tunisia; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Curry

We have been in frequent contact with all those countries that have imposed restrictions on our exports of cattle and cattle products including milk. We have also been working closely with the Commission of the European Communities and the Organisation International des Epizooties—OIE—to reassure countries that there is no public or animal health risk in importing cattle products including milk powder from the United Kingdom.

At the moment Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia and Turkey are maintaining restrictions on our milk products despite the clear statements from the Commission and the OIE that milk products present no risk from BSE. We shall continue to make every effort to have these unwarranted restrictions lifted in order that United Kingdom exporters may resume their trade in the middle eastern countries.