HC Deb 01 December 1993 vol 233 cc586-7W
Sir Ivan Lawrence

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action she is taking to ensure the maintenance of the highest health controls on the importation of cattle from abroad; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Soames

The Ministry is taking a number of measures designed to help prevent the introduction and spread of disease by imported cattle:

we have instigated 24-hour periods of blanket surveillance at all south and east coast ports which cover exports as well as imports;

we are targeting consignments where there is a particular animal health disease risk with up to 100 per cent. checks;

we gave stepped up checks at points of destination to between 50 and 60 per cent. on average.

Where concerns have been greatest the following measures have been taken:

following imports earlier this year of warbled cattle from France we have introduced a 100 per cent. check on all imported cattle from France. Diseased animals will be re-exported at the owner's expense;

following imports last year of foot and mouth disease sero-positive cattle from eastern Europe, the European Community has not instituted a pre-export testing requirement on all cattle originating from eastern Europe; as an additional safeguard we are conducting 100 per cent. testing of all cattle imported from these countries;

it is possible but not yet proven that the recent outbreak of brucellosis in Wales was associated with an imported animal. Our investigations are continuing. In the meantime, we are stepping up our checking at destination on cattle from France and the Netherlands.

We are taking other steps which should cut down the risk of importing diseases in the future.

we raise with the member states concerned and the Commission disease problems on each occasion they arise. We also monitor very closely the Commission's role in enforcing proper implementation of Community animal health rules in other member states;

we are urging the Community to harmonise standards of veterinary certification based on the principles drawn up by the Federation of Veterinarians in Europe and in particular that vets should certify only where they have personal knowledge of the relevant facts.