§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what volume of beef or beef products consumed in the United Kingdom in 1996 was(a) home produced, (b) imported from other European Union countries and (c) imported from non-European Union countries; and if he will list the volumes from each country. [4651]
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§ Mr. RookerFigures for the volume of beef and beef products consumed are not available in the form requested. However, the net supply1 of beef to the UK market in 1996 was 742 thousand tonnes (dressed carcase weight equivalent) of which 15 per cent. was imported from EU countries and 10 per cent. from non-EU countries. Imports of beef and beef products, as recorded in the Overseas Trade Statistics, are shown in the following tables. Some imports may be destined for re-export rather than for consumption.
Beef and beef product imports from EU countries in 19962 Consignment weight in tonnes Beef Beef products Austria 0 9 Belgium—Luxembourg 843 292 Denmark 849 331 Finland 0 0 France 8,091 1,765 Germany 3,551 1,485 Greece 0 57 Irish Republic 36,901 18,402 Italy 179 117 Netherlands 11.007 1,614 Spain 701 179 Sweden 42 0 Total 62,164 24,251 1 Net supply is UK beef production plus imports less exports of beef and net of stock change of beef. A proportion of this supply will have been processed into beef products, some of which may have been exported rather than consumed in the UK. This supply also excludes the beef component of imported beef products. 2 All data are provisional and subject to amendment.
Beef and beef product imports from non-EU countries in 19962 Consignment weight in tonnes Beef Beef products Argentina 7,455 15,299 Australia 9,221 1,587 Botswana 6,927 419 Brazil 3,809 32,417 Mauritius 0 2,593 Namibia 6,388 0 New Zealand 3,880 1,333 Paraguay 115 0 Romania 0 395 South Africa 1,720 0 Swaziland 561 0 Switzerland 0 536 U.S.A. 2,847 1,146 Uruguay 8,115 4,012 Zimbabwe 5,209 2,091 Other 1,010 337 Total 57.257 62,166 1 Net supply is UK beef production plus imports less exports of beef and net of stock change of beef. A proportion of this supply will have been processed into beef products, some of which may have been exported rather than consumed in the UK. This supply also excludes the beef component of imported beef products. 2 All data are provisional and subject to amendment.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what controls exist for the import of beef and beef products from non-European Union countries; and if he will make a statement. [4650]
§ Mr. RookerAll fresh meat imported into the UK, whether from other Member States or third countries, must have been produced in accordance with harmonised318W Community rules laid down in Council Directive 64/433/EEC. In the case of meat products the harmonised rules are laid down in Council Directive 77/99 (as amended).
In addition, the Fresh Meat (Beef Controls) (No. 2) Regulations 1996 prohibit the sale for human consumption all bovine meat derived from bovines which, at the time of slaughter, were more than 30 months old. This measure applies to all bovines slaughtered on or after 29 March 1996, whether in the UK or overseas, other than those registered under the Beef Assurance Scheme and those born, reared and slaughtered in those third countries specifically excluded by the Regulations (listed in the Schedule to the Regulations). This list of countries is confined to those where the Government is satisfied that we can import beef without risk.