§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what representations he has received as to the independence from poultry-producing companies of on-line inspectors of poultry meat; (2) what proposals he has for the meat inspection service as it relates to poultry products; (3) which poultry producers are represented on the working committee charged with responsibility for developing new arrangements for the inspection of poultry meat; (4) what further consideration is being given by his Department to on-line inspection by employees of poultry producers under a spotter system; (5) on what occasions in the last year he has discussed with the chairman of Hillsdown Holdings 461W the question of poultry meat inspection manning revels; and where the meetings took place; (6) what discussions he has had with representatives of the poultry trade as to a modified regime for the inspection of poultry on poultry plants; (7) what representations he has received from poultry producers in favour of changes in the arrangements for the inspection of poultry; and if he will list the companies involved; (8) what proposals he has as to responsibility for training on-line inspectors of poultry products.
§ Mr SoamesThe Government are currently preparing to implement EC Council directive 92/116/EEC amending and updating directive 71/118/EEC on poultry meat hygiene. This directive was agreed in December 1992 and is due for implementation in member states by 1 January 1994.
The new directive takes into account developments in this area over the last 20 years, including a series of studies carried out on behalf of the European Commission in the 1980s, into alternative methods of poultry meat inspection. These studies demonstrated that information on the health status of the flock from which birds were taken can aid inspection at the slaughterhouse and that company employees could carry out inspection with the same effectiveness as official inspectors, given adequate training. Under the new directive, member states are authorised to permit individual companies to utilise their own staff to carry out on-line inspection at the slaughterhouse, under supervision and control by the official veterinary surgeon with responsibility for the slaughterhouse.
The new directive also makes extensive provisions for poultry meat inspectors to assist the official veterinary surgeon in the day-to-day supervision of poultry processing, and it is likely that these staff will increasingly take on a supervisory role.
The Government support the principle that companies may be eligible to carry out poultry meat inspection under the supervision of enforcement bodies. This is consistent with the principle embodied in the Food Safety Act 1990 that the food industry has the main responsibility for ensuring the protection of its customers. The directive lays down detailed requirements for the monitoring and supervision of the inspection function, and requires that detailed guidance on training shall be laid down by the Commission.
The Government have invited representative organisations, including the British Poultry Meat Federation, British Retail Consortium, and meat inspector, training, veterinary and local authority interests to join a working group set up to discuss the detailed requirements, including training, which will apply under the new system. The poultry industry representation on this group has yet to be agreed.
Since the Department first consulted interested parties on the Commission's proposals in 1990. it has received eight representations on the independence from poultry producing companies of the poultry inspection system, from a range of individuals and organisations. Representations from poultry companies on the Commission's proposals were received through trade associations including the British Poultry Meat Federation. In addition the Scottish Office and Northern Ireland Office have received separate representations from individual companies. My right hon. Friend the Minister 462W of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food discussed the EC poultry meat market, with industry representatives, including, Hillsdown Holdings, Northern Foods, Bernard Matthews, Cherry Valley and Favour Parker Ltd. on a number of occasions in 1992. He has also visited Sun Valley and Lloyd Maunder for discussions.
The Department will issue for public consultation in due course its detailed proposals on guidance and legislation to implement the new Directive. Guidance was issued to local authorities on 3 November on the use of trained plant staff to assist in poultry meat inspection, as a measure to ease the transition to the new arrangements.