Red Meat Industry (Hansard, 28 April 1994)

§ Mr. Soames

The principal statutory instruments and European Community directives affecting the red meat industry in Great Britain which are currently in force number 18 and seven respectively. Some 20 statutory instruments have been rescinded or part-rescinded during the lifetime of this Parliament. Details are as follows:

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The hygiene regulations affecting the red meat industry in Great Britain are the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1992—SI 1992 No. 2037—which implement directives 91/495/EEC—part—91/497/EEC and 91/498/EEC. Schedule 23 of these regulations lists the 20 regulations or orders, or parts thereof, revoked in the lifetime of this Parliament.

Directive 88/408/EEC on the financing of meat inspection was replaced in December 1993 by directive 93/118/EEC; proposals for implementing this directive will be issued for consultation shortly. The current legislation on meat inspection charges is the Fresh Meat and Poultry Meat (Hygiene, Inspection and Examination for Residues) (Charges) Regulations 1990—SI 1990 No. 2494—and the Farmed Game Meat (Hygiene and Inspections) (Charges) Regulations 1993—SI 1993 No. 1369.

The Meat (Sterilisation and Staining) Regulations 1982 —SI 1982 No. 1018—as amended and the parallel Scottish legislation have been reviewed as part of the deregulation initiative and will shortly be replaced. The Bovine Offal (Prohibition) Regulations 1989—SI 1989 No. 2061—as amended have also been reviewed and are to be retained.

Directive 90/675/EEC deals with importation of red meat and other animal products from third countries. The relevant GB regulations, principally the Importation of Animal Products and Poultry Products Order 1980—SI 1980 No. 14—as amended, the Products of Animal Origin (Import and Export) Regulations 1992—SI 1992 No. 3298 —and the Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (Charges) Regulations 1992—SI 1992 No. 3299 —are scheduled for review during 1994.

Directive 93/119/EEC, on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing, repeals directive 74/577 with effect from 1 January 1995. GB regulations to implement the new directive will replace four existing statutory instruments. These are the Slaughter of Animals (Humane Conditions) Regulations 1990—SI 1990 No. 1242—the Slaughter of Animals (Humane Conditions) (Scotland) Regulations 1990—SI 1990 No. 1240 (S 137) —the Slaughter of Pigs (Anaesthesia) Regulations 1958 —SI 1958 No. 1971—and the Slaughter of Pigs (Anaesthesia) (Amendment) Regulations 1984—SI 1984 No. 1310.

The Beef Carcase (Classification) Regulations 1991—SI 1991 No. 2242—provide for the administration and enforcement of the Community system of classification of beef carcases as required by article 3 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1186/90.

The Pig Carcase (Grading) Regulations 1988, as amended—(SI 1988 No. 1180—provide for the administration and enforcement of the Community system for grading pig carcases in slaughterhouses and implement Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3220/84.

The Processed Animal Protein Order 1989—SI 1989 No. 661—requires processors of animal protein to register with Agriculture Departments and take samples of their product and test them for salmonella.

The Animal By-Products Order 1992—SI 1992 No. 3303—which implements directive 90/667/EEC, lays down rules for the disposal and processing of animal waste.

The Waste Food Order 1973—SI 1973 No. 1936—lays down rules for the processing of waste food not covered by SI 1989 No. 661 or SI 1992 No. 3303.

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The Meat (Treatment) Regulations 1964—SI 1964 No. 19—prohibit the addition to raw and unprocessed meat of certain colour—enhancing additives which might deceive the consumer as to the freshness of the meat. They have been reviewed and are to be retained.

In addition to this list, Council Regulations (EEC) Nos. 805/68, 3013/89 and 2759/75, implemented by subsidiary Commission legislation provide the framework for the common agriculture policy in respectively the beef, sheepmeat and pigmeat sectors. These are directly applicable in the United Kingdom and cover such subjects as intervention purchases and sales, imports and subsidised exports and the reporting of market prices.