§ Mr. HopkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the adequacy and effectiveness of controls designed to minimise the risk of BSE infected meat originating in France from entering the British food chain. [140621]
§ Ms StuartThe Government treat all matters of food and consumer safety with the utmost seriousness. That is why we established the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The preliminary advice received from the agency is that there is no need currently for a ban on French beef. But the agency plans to visit France urgently to ensure that the French Government have in place effective measures to implement their planned action on beef and to ensure that the beef banned in France will not be exported to the United Kingdom. The position will be reconsidered by Ministers following the report from the FSA of its findings in France.
In addition, the agency is commissioning a risk assessment of French beef. The Government will be pressing for the European Commission to ensure the compulsory labelling of countries of origin of meat, including processed products. All allegations that imported over-30-months-beef is being or has been sold for human consumption are vigorously investigated. The agency will be asking local authorities to step up enforcement action on the 30-months rule in meat processing plants and retailers. The FSA has advised Ministers to consider tightening the 1996 regulations so that they cover certification and beef products and we will be doing that urgently.