§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what checks are introduced on imported pigmeat which is processed and sold in pre-packed form. [107107]
§ Ms QuinAll meat and meat products, including processed and pre-packed pigmeat, imported from third countries are subject to veterinary inspection at designated Border Inspection Posts. All consignments are subject to documentary and identity checks and at least 20 per cent. of consignments are subject to physical checks. These checks are to ensure that conditions of import have been complied with and that the products have remained in a satisfactory condition during transport.
Meat and meat products originating in all EU member states, including the UK, are subject to strict hygiene rules laid down in EU law. Among other things, this sets out the licensing, structural and supervision requirements to be applied in all meat plants before they can be approved for trade with other member states. Member states to which meat and meat products may be dispatched are permitted to carry out random checks at destination but these are limited by virtue of the fact that there are no certification or pre-notification requirements for most consignments.
Ensuring that all member states comply with their Community obligations in properly implementing and applying EU hygiene rules is the responsibility of the European Commission, whose Food and Veterinary Office carries out regular programmes of inspection visits to all member states. Their reports are considered by the Standing Veterinary Committee in Brussels, and, if necessary, the Commission will take infraction proceedings against member states whose arrangements are considered inadequate.
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