§ Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps the Government are taking to secure a lifting of the ban on the export of British beef to the EU. [117187]
§ Ms QuinBritish beef can be exported to all member states except France. The European Commission has begun legal proceedings against the French Government for their failure to lift their ban on the import of British beef. The UK Government have made it clear to the Commission that they expect these proceeding to be pursued vigorously.
§ Mr. PickthallTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence his Department has collated on the extent to which beef carcases retaining the spinal cord are being imported from other EU countries. [118666]
§ Ms QuinInspections of beef imported from the EU are carried out in all licensed meat plants in the UK. Since January 1998, when the Specified Risk Material Order 1997 came into force requiring imported carcases not to contain any specified risk materials, one of these inspections in mid-1999 has identified seven beef forequarters in a single consignment from which the spinal cord had not been completely removed.