§ Mr. JackTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will publish the advice given to him by local environmental health officers about their assessment of the enforceability of the ban on beef on the bone; [27339]
(2) how many representations he has received from local environmental health officers concerning the enforceability of the ban on beef on the bone. [27338]
Dr. John Cunningham[holding answer 5 February 1998]: Since the Regulations came into effect, I have received one letter from a local authority environmental health department about their assessment of the enforceability of the ban on beef on the bone. This was a notification that the authority's Environment Sub-Committee felt the Regulations would prove difficult to enforce effectively, and a request for guidance on enforcement. In addition, officials of my Department have responded freely to telephone requests for advice received from individual environmental health officers. They have also discussed the Regulations and their enforcement with representatives of local authority organisations, including the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to publish his advice on the interpretation and operation of his Beef on the Bone Order. [27333]
Dr. John Cunningham[holding answer 5 February 1998]: Initial guidance on the interpretation and operation of the proposed ban on bone-in beef was published on the Department's Internet site on 3 December 1997, and subsequently updated a number of times during that month. A further update is now being prepared. Advice has also been given to individual telephone callers on the proposed ban and subsequently on the Beef Bones Regulations 1997 following their coming into effect on 16 December 1997. Draft guidance to local authorities on the interpretation and operation of the Regulations was circulated to local authority representative bodies, including the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, on 12 January 1998 and discussed at a meeting between their representatives and my officials on 16 January. A revised version was circulated on 28 January for final comment and was issued to all local authorities today. I 168W have arranged for a copy to be sent to the right hon. Member. A copy has also been placed in the Library of the House and on the Department's Internet site.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice or information he has received from Mr. Simon Williams about his assessment of the enforceability of the ban on beef on the bone. [27337]
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement listing the ways in which, as a result of the beef deboning process, dorsal root ganglia could enter the food chain. [27342]
Dr. John Cunningham[holding answer 5 February 1998]: Dorsal root ganglia lie close to the bones of the vertebral column, which is required to be removed under the Beef Bones Regulations 1997 and disposed of in accordance with the Animal By Products Order 1992. The Regulations require that deboning of bone-in beef at food premises is carried out in a hygienic manner, in particular so as to avoid the risk of contamination of any food or ingredient.