HC Deb 16 October 1995 vol 264 cc125-7W
Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many calves from herds known to have had BSE have been exported over the last five years; and to which countries they have been exported. [34863]

Mrs. Browning

[holding answer 19 July 1995]: The information requested is not available. In any case, it is not an EC requirement that calves exported from the UK have to originate from herds in which no case of BSE has been diagnosed.

Mr. Banks

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what proportion of calves exported from the United Kingdom are checked by his Department's vets at the time they are given an export certificate to ensure they are not from herds with a history of either BSE or EBL. [34865]

Mrs. Browning

[holding answer 19 July 1995]: It is not an EC requirement that calves exported from the UK have to originate from herds in which no case of BSE has been diagnosed. However, before signing an export health certificate for any consignment the certifying local veterinary inspector must obtain documentary evidence from owners/exporters/auctioneers and MAFF that none of the calves is the progeny of a BSE-infected dam or originates from a herd in which EBL has occurred within a specified time.

Mr. Banks

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many calves from herds known to have had EBL have been exported over the last five years; and to which countries they have been exported. [34867]

Mrs. Browning

[holding answer 19 July 1995]: We are aware from audit procedures that one animal exported to Belgium in 1994 originated from a herd in which EBL had occurred during the previous three years. Under EC rules, the animal will have been slaughtered by six months of age.

Mr. Banks

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what safeguards he has put in place to ensure that animals exported from the United Kingdom with further fattening certificates are not immediately slaughtered on arrival at destination. [35479]

Mrs. Browning

[holding answer 19 July 1995]: EC animal health and welfare rules do not preclude the slaughter of animals exported for further fattening and accompanied by further fattening health certification. It is the responsibility of the veterinary authorities of the importing country to ensure that appropriate controls are imposed once exported animals arrive at their place of destination.

Mr. Banks

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many animals were exported from the United Kingdom in 1994 and 1995 to date with a further fattening export certificate; and how many animals during the same period were exported with a for slaughter certificate. [35478]

Mrs. Browing

[holding answer 19 July 1995]: Information in respect of exports to other member states is as follows:

1994 11995
Cattle for further fattening 301,009 104,400
Cattle for slaughter 1,623 760
Sheep for further fattening 1,038,572 202,327
Sheep for slaughter 79,901 4,126
Pigs for further fattening 10,718 358
Pigs for slaughter 9,471 296
Goats for further fattening 0 0
Goats for slaughter 2 0
1 To end of May.

Note:

These figures are collated from the ANIMO system and show the number of animals certified for export from the United Kingdom to other member states. The figures remain provisional and subject to change.