§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress the Government have made on implementing the European directive on animal welfare. [16751]
§ Mrs. BrowningWe are consulting extensively on implementation in this country of the new EU rules on the protection of animals during transport. The first stage of consultation is complete, and we shall be consulting further on our proposals for legislation, taking account of the comments we have received. The EU rules have to be implemented in the member states by 31 December 1996.