§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Spring) of 10 June,Official Report, columns 307–8, whether national provisions in force at the time the stallion which was possibly infected with equine viral arteritis was imported into the United Kingdom afford the same degree of protection to the United Kingdom as the provision set out in article 20(2) of the EC directive 90/496/EEC, (a) against inadequate third country veterinary certification and (b) when equidae are, or are suspected of being, infected with or contaminated by an infectious or contagious disease.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe animal health rules applicable to the import of horses into Great Britain at the time the stallion was imported were of at least equivalent effect to those now required under EC rules. Where there is evidence of inadequate veterinary certification, this is always taken up with the country concerned.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when regulation No. 3295 implementing Council directive 90/496/EEC came into force; on what date article 27 of that directive stipulates that it should have been brought into force in the United Kingdom; what are the reasons for the difference in dates; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) Regulations 1992 (SI 1992 No. 3295) came into force on 1 January 1993.
Article 27 of directive 90/426/EEC required member states to bring into force implementing laws, regulations and administrative procedures from 1 January 1992. The provisions were implemented in Great Britain under existing legislation pending the coming into force of SI 1992 No. 3295.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when her Ministry first received representations from the Animal Health Trust that a relaxation in the rules governing the import of horses and farmed livestock would make the United Kingdom vulnerable to equine viral arteritis.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardAs soon as it was realised that specific provisions in relation to EVA were not to be included in the EC animal health rules of equidae, the industry was advised to strengthen the existing voluntary code of practice designed to guard against the introduction of disease into the breeding stock.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect the timing of the implementation of directive 90/496/EEC, on animal health conditions governing the movement and import from third countries of equidae, had with respect to the importation of horses infected with equine viral arteritis and farmed livestock testing sero-positive to foot and mouth.
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§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe timing of implementation of directive 90/426/EEC, which does not apply to farmed livestock, has had no effect on the importation of horses infected with EVA.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what measures are presently in place, or are due to be implemented, which might restrict the United Kingdom's ability to halt the importation of animals infected with equine viral arteritis or other non-notifiable diseases;
(2) whether the United Kingdom is able to act independently of other EC nations within the context of the European single market, to protect against the importation of equidae infected with equine viral arteritis and farmed livestock testing sero-positive to foot and mouth.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardEC rules require that animals entering the Community or moving between member states must be certified as free from clinical signs of disease. Member states may return animals not complying with this requirement.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action the Government are taking to ensure that equine viral arteritis is included on the list of notifiable diseases listed in schedule 5 to the Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) Regulation 1992.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardNone, because EVA is not required under EC rules to be notifiable in member states.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a vaccine will be available to tackle equine viral arteritis virus; and why stocks were not available in the United Kingdom for immediate use.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardAn application for an inactivated vaccine has recently been received by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and is being assessed as quickly as possible.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the most recent figures on the number of premises and horses known to have been infected with equine viral arteritis.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardAccording to information provided by the Animal Health Trust, active infection has been found on six of 14 premises currently under voluntary movement restrictions. Eighty-eight horses have, to date, tested seropositive.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what national rules have been in force pending the implementation of directive 90/496/EEC; and what protection these rules provided against the importation of equidae infected with equine viral arteritis.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardNational rules in force prior to implementation of directive 90/426/EEC required horses to be tested seronegative to equine viral arteritis prior to importation.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action her Department is taking to assist in the eradication of equine viral arteritis from the United Kingdom; and by when she expects eradication to have been achieved.
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§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardI refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Spring) on 10 June 1993, columns307–308.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research her Ministry has financed towards the development of a genetically engineered killed vaccine for equine viral arteritis.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardNone, although research into the equine viral arteritis virus is currently taking place at the Central Veterinary Laboratory, Weybridge and the Animal Health Trust, Newmarket for which a total of £0–25 million has been allocated over three years.