§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current size of the beef intervention stock held in the United Kingdom; and how much of this stock was purchased in each year. [24417]
§ Mr. BaldryAs at 21 June 1996, United Kingdom beef intervention stock levels stood at around 9,000 tonnes. In December 1992, the stock level was approximately 160,000 tonnes. In the following year, about 22,000 tonnes came into intervention and around 86,000 tonnes were sold. There were no sales into intervention in 1994 and 1995 when sales from intervention were around 64,000 tonnes and 17,000 tonnes leaving a stock total in December 1995 of around 5,500 tonnes.
Tonnes Belgium Denmark Germany Greece Spain France Ireland Italy Luxembourg Netherlands UK 1991 5.974 35,230 103,386 — 3,882 163,266 199,524 51,947 — 2,623 139,529 1992 2.666 39,093 174,492 — 12,895 186,379 241,843 53,069 — 1,774 159,849 1993 184 22,131 17,499 — — 21,275 166,424 20.985 — 681 85,614 1994 — 1,150 — — — 590 27,403 4,518 — — 22,015 1995 — 71 — — — 36 345 — — — 5,072 As at 21 June 1996, UK beef intervention stock levels stood at around 9,000 tonnes.
Intervention stock is unlikely to contain BSE-infected material. Community rules currently require that beef purchased into intervention must be derived from steers aged less than 30 months at slaughter, or 24 months in the case of bull beef. BSE has never been clinically diagnosed in an animal aged less than three years, and only in two animals—both heifers—aged between three and four years. In addition, specified bovine offals would be excluded and obvious nervous and lymphatic tissues removed during cutting. Beef stored in intervention is subject to regular and comprehensive controls, including analyses, to ensure that it remains safe to eat.