§ Lord Hoosonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they intend to extend the ban on the importation of beef from the European Community to the importation of beef from each of North America, Australia, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, New Zealand, Botswana, Kenya, Madagascar, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Macedonia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and any other non-EC country; and whether they are satisfied that each of these sources of beef supply satisfies in its slaughtering, breeding and health arrangements the standards laid down by the Government for the beef produced domestically.
§ Lord DonoughueThere is no ban on the importation of beef from the European Community. The United Kingdom's new controls on Specified Risk Materials (SRM) require certain imported animal products for food or feed use to be accompanied by additional certification confirming that they are free of SRM. This requirement applies to imports from all EU and non-EU countries other than Australia and New Zealand.
More generally, all fresh meat produced in, and imported into, the UK, whether from other EU Member States or third countries, must have been produced in accordance with harmonised Community rules as laid down in Council Directive 64/433/EEC.