§ Lord Vinsonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Given that over the past 12 months the United Kingdom has imported meat from six countries with endemic foot and mouth disease, subject only to local veterinary inspection prior to slaughter and inspection at the United Kingdom border, whether they are seeking similar arrangements in respect of the export of meat by the United Kingdom. [HL1768]
§ Lord WhittyAll six countries in question control foot and mouth disease (FMD) by means of a vaccination programme. As a result, the EU maintains demanding conditions for the importation of meat from those countries in accordance with internationally recognised standards. These conditions go far beyond veterinary inspection prior to slaughter and among other things require the farm of origin and the slaughterhouse to be in an area free from cases of FMD and require any meat exported to be matured for a specified period and de-boned before dispatch. Pigmeat cannot be imported from these countries.
Although the conditions under which we may currently export meat are also demanding, we can expect them to be removed once we are considered free of FMD. We will then be able to approach third countries to ask them to accept UK meat in accordance with the accepted international standards for a country free of FMD. Restrictions due to BSE will continue to limit exports of beef.