§ Mr. GillTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports he has received on compliance with EU directives regarding abattoirs in Italy; and if he will make a statement. [R] [107474]
§ Ms QuinIt is for the European Commission to monitor individual member States' compliance with EU Directives. The Commission's Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) carries out regular programmes of inspection visits to all member states, including visits to abattoirs and other meat plants. The last mission to Italy to check on controls in fresh meat establishments took place from 4 to 8 May 1998.
We do not receive copies of FVO reports, on inspection visits, other than those to the UK, but have access to them on the European Commission's website on the Internet in the same way as anyone else. The index for the Commission's inspection mission reports is: http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg24/health/vi/reports/index en.html.
299WWe publicise the availability of such reports in our monthly Meat Hygiene Enforcement Report.