§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list the countries, in order of frequency, from which meat treated with(a) clenbuterol and (b) other beta-agonists has been imported in each year since 1985.
§ Mr. SoamesBeta-agonists—which include clenbuterol—are a group of drugs which have been used for a number of years in licensed veterinary medicines to treat respiratory ailments in cattle and horses and as an aid to cattle at the time of calving. There are no requirements for those importing meat into the United Kingdom to declare whether it has come from animals treated with these medicinal products. I regret therefore that I cannot supply the hon. Member with the information requested.