§ Mr. PaiceTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the proposal for a European Council Regulation to improve the production and marketing of honey (Com 96/0596). [9329]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 18 July 1997]: The Commission proposal for a regulation concerning the production and marketing of honey was adopted at the Council of Ministers meeting of 23 to 25 June. I welcome the regulation, which mainly aims to assist the beekeeping sector in dealing with the burden of the bee disease varroa. We are currently assessing how the UK might 551W make the best use of the expenditure reimbursement provisions of the regulation and will consult the industry and others about it.