§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many of the oyster farming
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§ Mrs. BrowningThe information requested is not available. However, when consignments of animals are despatched from other member states notifications are sent via the Animo computer messaging system from the veterinary authorities of the countries of despatch. These notifications indicate that the following numbers of farm animals have been sent by all routes to Great Britain from the member states in question in the period July to September 1994:
sites in England and Wales monitored for faecal coliforms achieved (a) classification A, (b) classification B or (c) classification C; how many were prohibited; what percentage of the total number of sites each represents; how many oyster farming sites in Holland and France are also monitored for faecal coliforms; what classification each site achieved; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how many oyster farming sites in England and Wales are monitored for faecal coliforms under the shellfish hygiene regulations.
§ Mr. JackIn England and Wales a total of 41 oyster production areas are monitored for faecal coliforrns— E.Coli—under the Food Safety—Live Bivalve Molluscs and Other Shellfish—Regulations 1992. In these areas there are 63 groupings of beds, of which 12–49 per cent.—fall into class A, 39–62 per cent.—into class B, nine–14 per cent.—into class C, and three–5 per cent.—are prohibited.
All production areas in Holland and France are required by directive 91/492/EEC to be monitored. Information on the number of oyster farms classified in other EU member states is not generally available to us.