§ Mrs. ShephardTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date UKREP officials from his Department were informed that human and animal waste, and meat and bonemeal were being used in French animal feed; and if he will make a statement. [96015]
§ Mr. VazAs Minister responsible for Europe, I have been asked to reply.
UKREP Brussels officials first became aware of these allegations when they surfaced in the media in June.
Subsequent contact between the UK and the Commission was pursued by officials in the Joint Food Safety and Standards Group of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of Health. I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 5 November 1999, Official Report, column 374.
Officials in UKREP Brussels received a copy of the Commission's report of its inspection mission to France on 22 October.
§ Mr. GillTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when his Department first learned of the inclusion of sewage sludge in animal feedstuffs. [97571]
§ Ms QuinI refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the right hon. Member for South-West Norfolk (Mrs. Shephard) on 8 November 1999,Official Report, column 461.