§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the extent to which papain is currently being used in United Kingdom slaughterhouses.
§ Mr. MacleanI understand that about 2 per cent, of cattle are treated with the enzyme Papain before slaughter. Single market rules on the production and marketing of fresh meat, Directive 91/497/EEC, due to come into effect on 1 January 1993, will prohibit such treatment. The Government welcome this.