§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement outlining the Government's position on the provisions of article 7 of EC directive 91/493 dealing with derogations for small-scale fish processors.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 13 March 1992]: Detailed guidance and application forms for derogations under article 7 of directive 91/493/EEC are being prepared. It is hoped to send these to local authorities early in April.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to be able to provide guidance to environmental health officers to enable them to advise small-scale fish processors of the opportunities open to them to be exempt from the officially set health requirements as detailed by EC directive 91/493.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 13 March 1992]: Small-scale fish processors are not exempt from the provisions of EC directive 91/493. However under article 7 of that directive fish processors may seek temporary derogations from certain structural and equipment requirements. It is hoped to issue guidance and application forms to local authorities early in April.
827WIn addition, under article 14 of the directive, there is a prospect that minimum structural and equipment requirements may be set for small establishments which distribute on the local market and are situated in regions subject to particular supply constraints. This possibility is largely dependent on the content of a report to be submitted to the Council by the Commission by 1 July 1992 and the outcome of subsequent discussions.