§ Sir Ralph HowellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to introduce the same controls in respect of beef imports from non-EC countries as are placed on home produced beef. [6987]
§ Mrs. BrowningThe Fresh Meat (Beef Controls) (No. 2) Regulations 1996 as amended, prohibit the sale for human consumption of any meat derived from bovine animals aged over 30 months and slaughtered on or after 29 March 1996, whether in the UK or overseas. The only exceptions are for bovine meat from non-EC countries specified in the regulations where the Government are satisfied that we can import beef without risk, and from animals slaughtered for human consumption under the beef assurance scheme.
Additionally, all consignments of fresh meat imported into the United Kingdom, whether from other member states or third countries, must have been produced in accordance with harmonised Community rules laid down in Council directive 64/433/EEC, as amended.
As regards controls on specified bovine materials, the Commission has recently put a proposal for EU-wide controls on such material to the Standing Veterinary Committee. This would also place equivalent controls on imports from third countries. The proposal was only supported only by the UK and France and is now expected to be submitted to the Council of Agriculture Ministers for further consideration.