HC Deb 18 June 1996 vol 279 cc436-8W
Mr. Marlow

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the extent to which the German Government will be able to delay the partial lifting of the beef ban while not being in conflict with EU law; and what mechanisms are available to the German Government to delay the partial lifting of the ban. [33053]

Mrs. Browning

[holding answer 17 June 1996]: The ban on the export of cattle, bovine semen and embryos, meat from cattle slaughtered in the United Kingdom, certain other products of such cattle and mammalian meat and bonemeal has been lifted in respect of semen, and subject to conditions of production, labelling and supervision, in respect of gelatine, tallow and certain other products. That partial lifting of the ban was done by a Commission decision that is binding on all member states of the European Community. Any member state that fails to give effect to the decision will be in breach of EC law.

Mr. MacShane

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those countries which have banned the import of British beef since 1987. [29036]

Mrs. Browning

[pursuant to the reply, 16 May 1996, c. 580–81]: Commission decision 96/239/EC of 27 March provided that the UK shall not export from its territory meat and meat products obtained from bovine animals slaughtered in the UK. The following information sets out the position on the day before the Commission decision was introduced, identifying separately those countries which, during the period from 1987, have introduced and/or maintained a ban, and those which had introduced, but subsequently lifted, such a ban.

Countries which have maintained a ban:

  • Algeria Argentina
  • Canada
  • China
  • Bahrain
  • Bulgaria
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Jamaica
  • Japan
  • Jordan
  • Kazakhstan (CIS)
  • Libya
  • Lithuania
  • Malaysia
  • Philippines
  • Russian Federation
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Switzerland
  • Syria
  • Taiwan
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Uzbekistan

Countries which have introduced, but subsequently lifted, a ban:

  • Chile
  • Cyprus
  • Egypt
  • Kuwait
  • Lebanon
  • State of Sarawak (Malaysia)
  • Mauritius
  • Morocco
  • Oman
  • Poland
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tunisia
  • Turkey
  • Qatar

Mr. Simpson

To ask the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food if he will list those non-EU countries which currently ban British beef, indicating in each case the date the ban became effective. [28976]

Mrs. Browning

[pursuant to the reply, 16 May 1996, c. 579–80]: Commission decision 96/239/EC of 27 March 1996 provided that the UK shall not export from its territory meat and meat products obtained from bovine animals slaughtered in the UK. The list of third countries therefore shows those countries with a ban on imports of British beef on the day before the introduction of the Commission Decision. The month and year when the ban was introduced are shown where available.

Importing country Date of ban
Algeria June 1990
Argentina August 1991
Bahrain
Bulgaria September 1994
Canada March 1996
China October 1990
Iran June 1990
Iraq October 1994
Jamaica September 1991
Japan July 1990
Jordan September 1990
Kazakhstan (CIS) August 1993
Libya November 1990
Lithuania April 1995
Malaysia
Philippines October 1994
Russian Federation September 1993
Saudi Arabia September 1990
Switzerland June 1990
Syria August 1990
Taiwan February 1990
United Arab Emirates August 1990
Uzbekistan