§ Mr. GillTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the reliability of the documentation accompanying imported beef in respect of its description and its health status. [7351]
§ Mr. RookerAll consignments of beef imported from third countries are subject to veterinary checks, including a documentary check in all cases, at the point of entry into the Community. Centrally held records of veterinary544W checks on all imports of fresh meat and meat products (beef is not separately identified), revealed documentary irregularities in only 0.6 per cent. of all consignments during 1996.
Production of beef in Member States is governed by harmonised rules which places the onus on the Member State of origin to ensure that the beef has been produced in compliance with those rules. On arrival at a GB premises, Community beef is subject to document and health mark check, either by the Official Veterinary Surgeon or by the owner of the premises, to ensure that the goods have been produced in accordance with these rules. There is no centrally held record of this trade which is governed by Single Market principles.