§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals she has to review the system governing livestock imports from eastern Europe; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. Jack[holding answer 16 December 1993]: My right hon. Friend does not have any proposals to review the system governing imports of livestock from eastern Europe, which is set out in the Europe agreements that the EU has concluded with the six countries principally involved, and in other EU legislation. My right hon. Friend has, however, recently announced newly strengthened measures designed to help prevent the introduction of disease into Great Britain through imported animals generally. These measures include an increase in the number of routine checks carried out on all imported livestock at points of destination and, because of particular concerns arising from the import of foot and mouth disease sero-positive cattle from Eastern Europe in 1992, the blood testing of all cattle imported from Eastern Europe.