§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the checks which take place for salmonella in live birds in Holland producing eggs that are being sold in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. SoamesI understand that official checks are carried out for the presence of salmonella in poultry brooding flocks in the Netherlands, but not as far as I am aware in commercial egg laying flocks.
The EC Zoonoses directive—92/117/EEC—agreed at the December Agriculture Council, includes provisions for the control of salmonella in poultry. The directive comes into force on 1 January 1994, and from that date producers in all member states will be required to meet the standards set in the directive. We would expect the European Commission to ensure compliance with the requirements in other member states.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of egg imports are subject to testing for salmonella.
§ Mr. SoamesChecks for salmonella in imported eggs ceased from 1 January on the introduction of the single market. However, all eggs, including imported eggs, remain subject to checks at any stage of marketing.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of salmonella were reported in each month since January 1991.
§ Mr. SoamesThe total number of incidents of salmonella in animals and birds reported to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under the Zoonoses Order 1989, in each month since January 1991 were:562W
1991 11992 January 389 275 February 371 320 March 315 290 April 318 245 May 280 183 June 300 236 July 300 282 August 298 281 September 492 298 October 500 301 November 393 270 December 315 166 TOTAL 4,271 3,147 1 Figures for 1992 are provisional.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements exist for the removal of egg stocks from the market where sample testing of imported eggs reveals salmonella contamination.
§ Mr. SoamesAll eggs on the British market, whether imported or home produced, may be subject to testing for salmonella. Any food, including eggs, which poses a threat to human health would be removed from the market under section 9 of the Food Safety Act 1990.