§ Mr. Russell BrownTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he will take to prohibit beef imports in cases of suspect documentation. [21582]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 18 December 1997]: If there are suspicions regarding the authenticity of documentation, these would be investigated. Council Directive 90/675/EEC provides for imports of animal products from third countries which do not satisfy Community rules to be re-dispatched outside the Community, destroyed or used for a purpose, other than for human consumption, for which they are considered fit. In accordance with Council Directive 89/662/EEC, imports of animal products from other Member States which do not satisfy the conditions laid down in Community law may be destroyed, used for other purposes for which they are considered fit, or returned. Return of products must be authorised by the competent authority of the country of the establishment of origin.
§ Mr. Russell BrownTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure that imported beef conforms to the criteria for United Kingdom domestic slaughter. [21581]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 18 December 1997]: All fresh meat produced in the UK, and imported into the UK from other EU Member States, must be produced in accordance with harmonised Community rules laid down in Council Directive 64/433/EEC. Fresh meat imported from third countries must come only from approved establishments in countries which are authorised by the European Commission to export to the Community. These controls are designed to ensure that the meat satisfies health requirements equivalent to those applying within the Community.
In addition, national legislation, which came into force on 1 January 1998, prohibits imports of specified risk materials (SRM) of bovine, ovine or caprine origin (except for technical uses) from all other countries, including other EU Member States, and requires a number of imported animal products to be accompanied by official veterinary certification confirming that they do not contain and are not derived from SRM. National controls on the use of certain specified risk materials, which have been amended a number of times in the light of scientific advice, have been in place since 1989.
§ Mr. PaiceTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what mechanisms are used to ensure that beef imported into the UK from European countries is from animals which were less than 30 months old. [22077]
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§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 22 December 1997]: The Fresh Meat (Beef Controls) (No. 2) Regulations 1996 prohibit the sale for human consumption of all meat derived from bovine animals which at the time of slaughter were more than 30 months old. This measure applies to all bovines slaughtered on or after 29 March 1996, whether in the UK or overseas, other than those born, reared and slaughtered in those third countries specifically excluded by the Regulations and UK animals from the Beef Assurance Scheme. Local authorities enforce the Regulations acting on any information available to them. The Regulations do not impose restrictions on the import of meat.