Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many chickens were imported from Thailand in each of the past three years; what assessment he has made of the quality of the feed24W given to such chickens; what health problems have arisen from consumption of Thai chicken products; and if he will make a statement. [108110]
§ Ms QuinUK imports of chicken from Thailand in 1997 to 1998 and in January to November 1999 were as follows:
Tonnes1 £ million 1997 Carcase meat 3,784 7.6 Preparations 2,131 6.4 Total 5,915 13.9 1998 Carcase meat 7,216 11.1 Preparations 6,760 17.2 Total 13,976 28.3 19992 Carcase meat 9,767 14.1 Preparations 9,724 24.0 Total 19.491 38.1 1 Product weight 2 January-November Source:
HM Customs and Excise
No live chicken imports into the UK from Thailand were recorded during this period.
Responsibility for approving countries from which poultry meat may be imported into the European Community, and for collecting information on practices within those countries to aid decisions on approval, rests with the European Commission. In deciding whether to approve countries, the Commission must, in particular, take account of information on the state of health of the livestock, other domestic animals and wildlife; the provision of information on incidence of certain diseases; the country's rules on disease prevention and control and how these are organised and implemented; the structure of the veterinary services; and legislation on the use, authorisation, distribution and marketing of substances which might be administered to livestock. The quality of feedstuffs used is not a specific consideration.
Thai chicken products have not been directly implicated in outbreaks of foodborne illness reported to the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (CDSC) of the Public Health Laboratory Service. Should it be evident that any animal product from any country of origin will pose a serious threat to human or animal health, safeguard action can be taken in accordance with EU veterinary rules.