§ Mr. JackTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from which countries Britain imports meat from any species in respect of which the abattoirs do not comply precisely with EU requirements. [47854]
Dr. John Cunningham[holding answer 1 July 1998]Controls on the hygienic production of fresh meat for sale for human consumption are set out in Council Directive 64/433/EEC. This sets out the licensing, structural and veterinary supervision requirements to be applied in all abattoirs in all Member States. Implementation of the requirements is a matter for each Member State. The European Commission is responsible for ensuring that all Member States comply with their Community obligations in properly implementing and applying the Directive. The Directive applies similar requirements on third country establishments wishing to export to the Community. These establishments are also inspected by the Commission to ensure that they comply. They are approved on a Community basis, not by individual Member States.
§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what instructions have been issued to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise with regard to meat imports. [48782]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 3 July 1998]: Meat imported from non-EU countries must enter the Community at approved Border Inspection Posts (BIPs), most of which are operated by local authorities. HM Customs and Excise have a statutory responsibility to withhold clearance of this meat until they have been notified by the Official Veterinary Surgeon at the BIP that relevant veterinary checks have been completed satisfactorily. These responsibilities have been promulgated to operational staff at ports and airports.