HC Deb 29 June 2000 vol 352 cc614-5W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to replace the long-distance transport of live farm animals from Britain to southern Europe by a trade in meat and carcases; and if he will make a statement. [127300]

Mr. Morley

It is not legally open to the Government to end the trade in live farm animals to other member states if the arrangements for transporting them comply with the relevant EU animal welfare rules. We do devote considerable effort to ensuring these rules are met while the animals are on our territory, as well as to urging other member states, bilaterally and through discussions in Brussels, to follow our example. We shall also press strongly for improvements to the rules in the forthcoming review. Our preference is for a carcase trade.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to propose changes to EU law to the effect that live animals are not considered goods or products; and if he will make a statement. [127298]

Mr. Morley

The Government have already obtained, at the intergovernmental Conference in Amsterdam, a Protocol to the Treaty which characterises animals as sentient beings and requires the Community and the member states, in formulating and implementing the Community's agriculture, transport, internal market and research policies, to pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals.