Abattoirs (Hansard, 16 July 1999)

§ Mr. Gill
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effect upon small abattoirs of imposing full-time veterinary supervision; and if he will make a statement. [R] [90389]

§ Mr. Rooker
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) on 19 January 1999,Official Report, column 454.

§ Mr. Gill
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the cost implications to abattoirs of full-time veterinary supervision; and if he will make a statement. [R] [90385]

§ Mr. Rooker
Based on the current size and structure of the meat production and processing industry in Great Britain, it is estimated by the Meat Hygiene Service that it will be necessary to secure the services of an additional 300 Official Veterinary Surgeons in order to bring veterinary supervision levels in licensed fresh red meat and poultry meat plants (ie slaughterhouses, cutting plants and cold stores) up to the levels required by the EU meat hygiene Directives. In accordance with EU rules, the costs of this additional veterinary supervision, estimated at £21 million in a full year, will have to be recovered from plant operators in the normal way. However, given the shortage of veterinarians willing to undertake meat368W hygiene work in the UK, full compliance with EU requirements is not possible immediately and it may be some years before the required levels and frequency of veterinary supervision is achieved in all licensed plants.

§ Mr. Gill
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of traceability in(a) craft abattoirs and (b) plant abattoirs. [R] [90388]

§ Mr. Rooker
The traceability and accurate identification of individual carcases throughout the slaughter process depends on the integrity of the commercial service offered by the slaughterhouse rather than its size.

§ Mr. Gill
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the role which small abattoirs will play in the future of the British meat industry. [R] [90387]

§ Mr. Rooker
The Government recognise the valuable contribution which small abattoirs make to the rural economy and will do what it can to encourage such businesses, consistent with the need to protect public health and with EU legislation.