HC Deb 11 January 1999 vol 323 cc120-1W
Mr. Evans

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what powers the EU has under existing bilateral and multilateral trade agreements to enforce harmonised community rules in third countries. [64282]

Mr. Rooker

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures gives members, including the European Community, the right to take measures necessary for the protection of human, animal or plant life or health which are based on scientific principles and which do not arbitrarily or unjustifiably discriminate between members where identical or similar conditions prevail. The Community's import requirements for animal products, which seek to ensure that imports are produced to at least the same standard as Community production, are an example of such measures.

In accordance with the provisions on recognition of equivalence in the WTO Agreement, the Community has entered into specific bilateral agreements with certain third countries which formally recognise that their respective systems of sanitary measures are intended to provide similar health assurances. These agreements, such as the Agreement between the European Community and the USA on sanitary measures to protect public and animal health in trade in live animals and animal products, include provisions enabling both parties to verify compliance by way of on-site checks and inspections.

Mr. Evans

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the occasions in the last 10 years when a guarantee offered by a third country with regard to compliance with Community rules regarding the importation of fresh meat or meat products subsequently proved ineffective. [64285]

Mr. Rooker

This information is not available. However, figures provided by the European Commission on the checks carried out at Border Inspection Posts in 10 Member States in the first half of 1997 show that 3.69 per cent. of consignments of fresh meat, including offal, and meat products and 2.00 per cent. of poultry meat and poultry meat products were rejected on arrival. In the period 1 January to 30 September 1998, 1.5 per cent. of consignments of animal products of all types were rejected at UK Border Inspection Posts. Not all rejections are due to non-compliance with standards of production in the country of origin.