§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those countries which have exported beef to the United Kingdom since December 1996 indicating the extent of their compliance with United Kingdom hygiene standards. [48856]
§ Mr. RookerOfficial Overseas Trade Statistics record that beef carcase meat, bovine offal and beef meat and bovine offal preparations have been imported into the UK from the following countries since December 1996:
EC Countries
- Republic of Ireland
- The Netherlands
- Germany
- France
- Belgium
- Luxembourg
- Denmark
- Spain
- Italy
- Austria
- Sweden
315 - Greece
- Finland
Non-EC
- Brazil
- Argentina
- Uruguay
- Australia
- Zimbabwe
- Botswana
- Namibia
- New Zealand
- Mauritius
- USA
- Swaziland
- South Africa
- Switzerland
- Paraguay
- Romania
- Uganda
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Singapore
- Malaysia
- Chile
- Canada
- Belize
- Croatia
- Abu Dhabi
- Ukraine.
All fresh meat, including beef, imported into the UK, whether from other EU Member States or third countries, must have been produced in accordance with harmonised Community rules. These rules require all meat which is intended for sale for human consumption to fulfil the required public health standards. This means that it must be produced in EC approved establishments and, to signify this, must be stamped with a health mark before leaving the plant.
Ensuring that all Member States comply with their Community obligations in properly implementing and applying Community rules is the responsibility of the European Commission, whose Office of Veterinary and Phytosanitary Inspection carries out regular programmes of inspection visits to all Member States. The inspection, approval and monitoring of establishments producing meat in third countries for despatch to the Community is also the responsibility of the European Commission.
In addition, meat imported from third countries must be accompanied by agreed animal and public health certification which is issued at the plant of origin. All imports must take place via approved Border Inspection Posts where they undergo checks to ensure they comply with Community animal and public health legislation.
§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the means by which Her Majesty's Customs and Excise determine the age of imported carcases. [48890]
§ Mr. RookerNo such determination is made since there are no restrictions on imports of carcases based on their age. The Fresh Meat (Beef Controls) (No.2)316W 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. The Regulations do not impose restrictions on the import of meat.
§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what steps he takes to assess the quality of foreign meat imported to the United Kingdom; [48854]
(2) if he will make a statement on the measures he is taking to ensure that imported beef meets United Kingdom beef production regulations. [48855]
§ Mr. RookerAll fresh meat, including beef, imported into the UK, whether from other EU Member States or third countries, must have been produced in accordance with harmonised Community rules. These rules require all meat which is intended for sale for human consumption to fulfil the required public health standards. This means that it must be produced in EC approved establishments and, to signify this, must be stamped with a health mark before leaving the plant.
Ensuring that all Member States comply with their Community obligations in properly implementing and applying Community rules is the responsibility of the European Commission, whose Office of Veterinary and Phytosanitary Inspection carries out regular programmes of inspection visits to all Member States. The inspection, approval and monitoring of establishments producing meat in third countries for despatch to the Community is also the responsibility of the European Commission.
In addition, meat imported from third countries must be accompanied by agreed animal and public health certification which is issued at the plant of origin. All imports must take place via approved Border Inspection Posts where they undergo checks to ensure they comply with Community animal and public health legislation.