§ Mr. JackTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what barriers remain to be lifted before the ban on British beef exports to Europe can be ended. [36807]
Dr. John Cunningham[holding answer 31 March 1998]: We have fulfilled all of the pre-conditions for the resumption of beef exports laid down in the Florence Agreement. We have secured the lifting of the bank from Northern Ireland beef from Export Certified herds. To enable the resumption of beef exports from the UK as a whole we are now engaged in discussions with the European Commission on our Date-based Export Scheme proposal. This scheme will have to be adopted by the European Union member states, either in the Standing Veterinary Committee or the Agriculture Council, before beef exports from Great Britain can begin.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which member states of the European Union he has communicated with since the agreement to lift the beef ban for Northern Ireland was agreed, to establish in each case what that members state's current objections are to the lifting of the beef ban for the remainder of the United Kingdom. [36808]
Dr. John Cunningham[holding answer 31 March 1998]: I regularly have discussions with my European Union counterparts in which the Date-based Export Scheme is covered. The European Commission have yet to put their proposal to member states in the Standing Veterinary Committee. My officials are discussing the UK's proposals with the Commission in order to deal with any potential objections.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek to ensure that at the next meeting of the Agriculture Council, an item will appear on the Agenda enabling a discussion to take place on a timetable of actions that will lead to the lifting of the beef export ban for Scotland, England and Wales. [36806]
Dr. John Cunningham[holding answer 31 March 1998]: Steps towards the resumption of UK beef exports are set out in the Florence Agreement which also specifies the procedures to be applied to each step. Consequently, my officials are currently developing plans for a Date-based Export Scheme in consultation with the European Commission. The Commission will then draw up a proposal to put before the Standing Veterinary Committee in line with the procedure set out in the Florence Agreement. The Agriculture Council would become included in this process if the Standing Veterinary Committee do not adopt the proposal.