HC Deb 29 July 1998 vol 317 cc350-2W
Mr. Evans

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the inspection, approval and monitoring of establishments producing meat in third countries. [53200]

Mr. Rooker

Council Directive 72/462 provides for lists of establishments from which Member States may authorise the importation of fresh meat or meat products to be drawn up by the Commission and considered by the Standing Veterinary Committee. In deciding whether an establishment should appear on the lists, particular account is taken of the guarantees offered by the third country with regard to compliance with Community rules; regulations with regard to administration of substances which might affect the wholesomeness of the meat; the establishment's compliance with the conditions for approval of fresh meat plants situated in the Community; and the organisation, powers and supervision of the country's meat inspection services. The Directive also provides for inspections to be carried out on the spot by veterinary experts of the Member States and the Commission to verify whether the conditions for approval of establishments are being applied in practice.

Mr. Evans

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list each occasion when an approved border inspection post has refused meat imports from third countries. [53192]

Mr. Rooker

It is not possible to list all occasions on which meat has been rejected at a Border Inspection Post, except at disproportionate cost. But in the first quarter of this year 186 consignments of products of animal origin (which included meat) were rejected at Border Inspection Posts. The numbers of rejections because of failure to comply with national legislation concerning specified risk material are set out in the Ministry's monthly BSE Enforcement Bulletin, copies of which can be found in the Library of the House.

Mr. Evans

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the means by which the European Commission enforces harmonised Community rules in third countries. [53197]

Mr. Rooker

The principal means by which Community standards are upheld in third countries is through the negotiations of bilateral and multi-lateral trade agreements by the Commission on behalf of the European Union.

Mr. Evans

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to ensure that consumers are informed of the country of origin of imported meat by labelling. [53240]

Mr. Rooker

Food labelling rules already require the place of origin of any food, including meat, to be given if omitting it could mislead the purchaser about the true place of origin of that food.

More specifically, the labels on pre-packaged poultrymeat must give an indication of the country of origin when it is imported from outside the Community and we are currently taking steps to require this information to appear on labels, tickets or notices near where unpackaged poultrymeat is offered for sale. Poultrymeat produced in the Community must include the registered number of the slaughterhouse or cutting plant which supplied the produce (except where cutting and boning is carried out at the place of sale). These registered numbers are prefixed with the initials of the member state concerned.