§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what import precautions were in force in respect of the import of horses and farmed livestock before September 1992; and what additional precautions were in force in respect of such imports from Poland.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardImports of horses and farmed livestock were subject to harmonised Community or, in their absence, national rules. Such import conditions differed according to species and the animal health status of the country of origin. Among other things, such conditions included pre-export or post-import testing and isolation, as appropriate, and, in all cases, that consignments were accompanied by a health certificate signed by an official veterinarian of the exporting country confirming that the animals fully complied with our import requirements.
From 1 July 1992 imports of live animals were also subject to veterinary checks in accordance with the provisions of Council directives 90/425/EEC and 91/496/EEC. In view of the safeguards provided, it was not considered to be necessary to take any special precautions in relation to such imports from Poland.