EU Meat Plants: Veterinary Supervision (Hansard, 22 March 2000)

§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Hayman)

In 1998, we requested information, through Agricultural Attaches in our Embassies in member states, about the implementation of EU requirements on veterinary supervision in meat plants in those countries. The level of information received was somewhat patchy and covers only 10 of the 14 member states surveyed. The results show that supervision levels and frequencies vary between member states and that supervision levels in GB premises are not significantly higher than in other member states. Indeed, they are probably lower than in some.

In addition, the Meat and Livestock Commission's report on meat inspection charges and other enforcement costs, published in October 1999, found that most other member states operate national inspection systems under arrangements similar to those operated by the Meat Hygiene Service in Great Britain, although the role of the official veterinarian and the meat inspector varies between member states. Moreover, the MLC found that in the nine member states surveyed, official veterinarians were fully qualified veterinary surgeons who had undertaken a minimum of five years' training as required by EU law.

The results of our own survey and the MLC report have been published and are available in the Library of the House. We have also passed copies of both to the European Commission. We agree with the conclusions of the Meat Industry Red Tape Working Group that a modern hazard-based control system is the way forward and are actively pressing the Commission to progress the fundamental changes required to EU legislation. Indeed, my right honourable friend the Minister, at his meeting with Commissioner Byrne on 6 March, pressed hard the case for a review leading to its replacement with rules based on more targeted risk assessment. Member states' officials are due to discuss the Commission's proposals for a fundamental review of ante and post mortem inspection procedures later this month.