§ 13. Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Welsh Agriculture Secretary about the labelling of meat which is imported from Europe but processed in Wales. [142014]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyMy hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales meets regularly with the Welsh Agriculture Secretary to discuss a range of issues. The Assembly subscribes to the new compulsory system for the labelling of beef and beef products, recently agreed by the EC. This came into force on 1 September 2000 and states that labels must indicate the location where slaughter and cutting took place. As from 1 January 2002, it will also be compulsory to include the location where birth and rearing took place.