Animal Welfare (Hansard, 3 February 1992)

§ Mr. Ron Davies
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals have been agreed by the Council of Ministers to ensure that live animals or animal products originating from outside the country have been handled or processed in accordance with the Community's own regulations on welfare and hygiene; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Maclean
Directive 91/628 on the protection of live animals during transport will provide that imports of animals from third countries shall be authorised only if the exporter and/or importer gives a written undertaking to comply with the requirements of the directive and has made arrangements to comply with them.
The directives on the welfare of pigs—91/630—and calves—91/629—will require animals imported from third countries to have been reared under at least equivalent conditions to those laid down in the directives.
Directive 90/675 will require member states to operate specific border checks to ensure that animal products imported from third countries comply with Community rules and national rules.

§ Mr. Ron Davies
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the policy on the maximum journey time which should be permitted for each species of food animal while being exported for slaughter.

§ Mr. Maclean
Directive 91/628 EEC on the protection of animals during transport provides for the Commission to propose maximum journey times for certain types of animal. This is to ensure that they do not travel for long periods without proper care including food and water. The hon. Member will be aware that our national arrangements provide for a maximum 12 to 15 hour interval between feeding and watering livestock during transport. In the Government's view this rule should be adopted throughout the Community.

§ Mr. Ron Davies
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any proposal to improve the standard of legislation, observance and enforcement of animal welfare between member states.

§ Mr. Maclean
The Government will continue to press for the high British standards of animal welfare to apply throughout the European Community. We have given full support to Commission proposals for establishing a Community inspectorate to ensure proper application of the legislation in all member states.