HC Deb 13 May 1994 vol 243 cc289-90W
Mr. Martyn Jones

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps she has taken to prevent potentially diseased cattle originating outside the EU from being imported to the United Kingdom via European Union countries; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Soames

All member states are required to operate common control measures to prevent diseased cattle from third countries entering the Community. Live animals may be imported into the Community only through an approved border inspection post and must undergo full documentary, identity and physical checks by an official veterinarian before being permitted to enter into free circulation within the Community. Animals originating in a third country destined for the United Kingdom but imported into the Community via another member state are also subject to spot checks at their place of destination in the United Kingdom. Where there is evidence that checks have not been properly applied in another member state we take the matter up with the Commission and the veterinary authorities of the member state of entry.

Mr. Martyn Jones

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many head of cattle were targeted in the tracing by her Department to be tested for the presence of foot-and-mouth disease vaccination antibodies; how many were actually traced and tested; and if she will make a statement;

(2) if she will make a statement on the policy of the branding on each shoulder with a V of traced cattle displaying foot-and-mouth disease vaccination antibodies and allowing these cattle to remain with the herds in which they have been found;

(3) which parties were consulted before deciding on the policy of branding of cattle displaying foot-and-mouth disease vaccination antibodies; and if she will make a statement;

(4) if she will make a statement on the outcome of her Department's plans to remove all cattle displaying foot-and-mouth disease vaccination antibodies from the national herd by 1 August 1993;

(5) if all the cattle involved in the tracing of foot-and-mouth disease vaccination antibodies by her Department have been found.

Mr. Soames

Of the 994 cattle known to have been imported into Great Britain from the Czech Republic and Poland since the autumn of 1992, 933 were traced and tested for the presence of antibodies to foot and mouth disease. It was not possible to trace all the animals because of poor movement records at the importers' premises and problems caused by re-tagging and subsequent onward movements. A total of 190 Czech and 59 Polish animals were found to be seropositive to FMD. All the animals concerned had undergone a documentary check after arrival in Great Britain and all were certified by the veterinary authorities in their country of origin as being in accordance with Community import rules.

Community rules permit the importation only of those animals which have never been vaccinated against FMD. Vaccinated animals can carry the FMD virus without showing clinical signs of the disease. Although there was no evidence that the seropositive cattle were carrying live virus and could thus be a threat to native livestock, the implications of the incident were potentially serious. In order not to jeopardise the United Kingdom's health status, the cattle were initially placed under restriction on their holdings until arrangements could be made for their re-export or slaughter. A deadline of 1 August 1993 was originally given for this to take place. Ministry veterinary officials visited both the Czech Republic and Poland and their veterinary authorities accepted that the animals had been certified incorrectly. However, despite lengthy and intensive negotiations between MAFF and the Czech authorities, and between the original British importer and the Czech export company, arrangements for the return of the affected animals to the Czech Republic could not be agreed. Similarly, discussions between the Ministry and the Polish veterinary authorities proved fruitless. As a result the deadline of 1 August was extended and owners of seropositive animals were given the option of slaughter of the animals or their permanent retention on their current holdings subject to restrictions, including freeze branding, until they are slaughtered.

There is no requirement to consult outside parties about measures intended to prevent the possible spread of disease.