HC Deb 09 May 1996 vol 277 cc260-1W
10. Mr. William Ross

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of United Kingdom beef exports is represented by beef exported from Northern Ireland. [27466]

Mr. Baldry

Beef exports from Northern Ireland accounted for approximately 28 per cent. of total UK beef exports in 1995.

14. Mr. Maclennan

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has made in promoting the full resumption of the international beef trade; and if he will make a statement. [27471]

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement I made on 1 May,Official Report, columns 1147–48.

15. Mr. Dykes

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on developments in European Union beef markets. [27472]

Mr. Baldry

EU beef markets are, to say the least, extremely turbulent at the present time.

18. Mr. Duncan

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made on the implications of the EU ban for the future of the beef industry. [27476]

Mr. Baldry

The United Kingdom's long and distinguished history as a trading nation has benefited considerably in recent years from a significant export trade in beef and beef products. The cessation of that trade directly threatens thousands of British jobs, severe financial hardship for those involved and possibly irreparable damage to the structure and profitability of the British beef industry.

19. Mr. Lidington

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has made to his German counterpart about the European Community ban on British beef. [27477]

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I have been in contact with my German counterpart, Joachim Borchert, on numerous occasions over the last few weeks during which time I have consistently and forcefully impressed upon him the fact that the export ban is unjustified and should be lifted forthwith.

Mr. Lidington

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the penalties for a breach of the EC ban on the export of British beef and beef products by a British exporter, and about how such penalties would be enforced. [27350]

Mrs. Browning

It would be an offence under the Products of Animal Origin (Import and Export) Regulations 1992 (SI 1992 No 3298), as amended, to export or to consign for export to another member state, British beef or beef products without the necessary export health certification. These export certificates have been withdrawn by the Government following the EC ban. A copy of the regulations is available in the Library of the House. The penalties applying are set out in regulation 28. Enforcement of the regulations is shared between the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the local authority concerned. In practice local authorities generally take prosecutions under the regulations. Under regulation 3 the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and in some circumstances the Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales and for Health, have powers to act where a local authority has failed to enforce.

All export certificates required by third countries to accompany consignments of British beef and beef products have also been withdrawn. Operational staff at all Customs export stations have been informed of the terms of the EC ban and have been instructed to refuse to release for export to third countries any goods covered by the ban. Customs' legal powers in respect of properly declared goods of the descriptions covered by the Commission decision extend no further than refusing permission to export. Failure to present goods for such export, however, is an offence under the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.

In the case of wilful breach of Customs controls, for example by misdescription of banned beef and beef products, powers in the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 provide for the prosecution of offenders and in some circumstances the forfeiture of goods. The commissioners of Customs and Excise will consider prosecution of such offences in individual cases using the criteria that they apply in all prosecutions.