§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many calves were exported during(a) 1994, (b) 1995 and (c) 1996 following the implementation of the Bovine Offal (Prohibition) (Amendment) Regulations on 2 November 1994; and what warnings were given to importers as to the action they should take concerning human food consumption. [18204]
272W
§ Mrs. Browning[holding answer 10 March 1997]: Official overseas trade statistics show that approximately 558,000 cattle, the vast majority of which would have been calves, were exported in the period November 1994 to March 1996, prior to the export ban which came into effect in 1996. These figures remain provisional and subject to amendment.
Exports of calves to member states during this period took place in accordance with EC decision 94/474, which requires all calves imported from the UK to be slaughtered before the age of six months. The proposed implementation of the Bovine Offal (Prohibition) (Amendment) Regulations 1994 was notified to the Commission on 26 July 1994 in accordance with the provisions of article 9(3) of the EC Technical Standards and Regulations Directive 83/189/EEC and would have subsequently been notified to other member states by the Commission. It is for individual member states to decide whether or not similar controls should be put in place in their territory.