§ Sir Richard BodyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which European Union member states currently face infringement proceedings in relation to bovine spongiform encephalopathy; what assessment his Department has made as to the health risks that result from such countries to consumers in the United Kingdom; if his Department has made representations for an export ban on beef products from those countries; and if he will make a statement. [10202]
§ Mr. RookerAt the Standing Veterinary Committee on 3 July, the EU Commission's intention to take infraction proceedings against 10 member states for various reasons related to the EU measures in place in relation to BSE, was discussed. Action was to be taken against France, Germany, Portugal, Sweden, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, Finland and Italy.
These measures were to be taken as a result of the report of Commission inspections which were shown by the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee at its meeting on 23 May. On the basis of this, SEAC issued advice to Government which was published on 5 June and which resulted in the reply the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food gave to the House on that day, Official Report, columns 227–28. This reply made it clear that the 552W Government proposed to extend the controls on beef from animals slaughtered in the UK to material once imported into the UK. We are not banning imports as such. The Agriculture Council on 22 to 23 July will be deciding on the introduction of EU-wide controls on cattle, sheep and goat offals.