§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what statistics his 89W Department collects on animal rearing practices in respect of meat products imported into the United Kingdom; and if he will publish them. [49523]
§ Mr. RookerResponsibility for approving countries from which meat products may be imported into the European Community, and for collecting information and statistics on practices within those countries to aid decisions on approval, rests with the European Commission. In deciding whether to approve countries, the Commission must, in particular, take account of information on the state of health of the livestock, other domestic animals and wildlife; the provision of information on incidence of certain diseases; the country's rules on disease prevention and control and how these are organised and implemented; the structure of the veterinary services; and legislation on the use, authorisation, distribution and marketing of substances which might be administered to livestock.