§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the amount of regulatory costs experienced by British beef producers which is not experienced by producers in other parts of the EU. [25239]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 26 January 1998]: There are currently no direct regulatory costs borne by British beef producers which are not experienced by producers in other parts of the EU. However inspection charges at slaughterhouses and cutting plants, in relation to the removal of Specified Risk material, will be introduced on 1 April, and are expected to cost the industry up to a maximum of £48 million in a full year. The cost to producers of a cattle passport under the new cattle tracing system is expected to be in the range of £5 to £10: but the UK is not unique in charging producers for cattle tracing. Although it impacts on the meat industry as a whole, the removal of subsidy paid to renderers since March 1996 (worth £96 million in a full year) will have significant effect on beef producers. These costs do not generally arise in other Member States because they do not experience the same high incidence of BSE as the UK. Even if they do, it is not clear whether the costs are charged to the industries concerned.