§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if there is a ban on the import of meat and meat products from cattle of over 30 months into this country; [121434]
(2) if the ban on the sale of meat products from cattle over 30 months old includes gelatine and other edible by-products; [121433]
128W(3) what checks are carried out on imports of meat and meat products to the United Kingdom to ensure that they are not from cattle over 30 months old. [121435]
§ Ms Stuart[holding answer 9 May 2000]: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that there is no restriction on the import of meat and meat products from cattle over 30 months, but the ban on sale of beef for human consumption from cattle aged over 30 months at slaughter applies to both home produced and imported supplies. The only exceptions to this ban are for meat from specialist grass-reared United Kingdom herds under the Beef Assurance Scheme (BAS) and meat from 14 non-EU countries that traditionally supplied the UK and have no history of BSE. As far as home supplies and meat imported into licensed premises are concerned, the ban is enforced by the Meat Hygiene Service. The carcase or part of a carcase of any bovine animal that is found to be more than 30 months old at slaughter (or over 42 months for BAS animals) is sterilised or stained immediately as an animal by-product. Local authorities are responsible for enforcement at other points in the supply chain.
Imported gelatine and other edible by-products are not subject to the over 30 months rule. However, they are subject to controls on the use of specified risk materials in their production. The UK introduced these national SRM controls from 1 January 1998, pending the implementation of Community measures. Imports of gelatine and other edible by-products must be accompanied by a certificate confirming that they are SRM-free or that they are from animals born, reared and slaughtered in Australia or New Zealand.