§ Mr. JackTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what tests will be applied by environmental health inspectors to differentiate foreign beef bones from those coming from United Kingdom animals. [27336]
Dr. John Cunningham[holding answer 5 February 1998]: The Beef Bones Regulations 1997 require the deboning of all beef, whether from home supplies or imported, coming from cattle over 6 months old before it is sold to the consumer.
§ Mr. GarnierTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many letters his Department has received since he announced the ban on beef on the bone objecting to that ban and the Government's policy relating to it. [29732]
Dr. John Cunningham[holding answer 16 February 1998]: Since the announcement on 3 December 1997, this Department has received approximately 3,100 such letters.