§ Mr. HoodTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 29 and 30 January was; and if he will make a statement. [148200]
§ Mr. Nick BrownI attended the Agriculture Council meeting held in Brussels on 29 January, accompanied by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State and Brid Rogers MLA, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development in the Northern Ireland Executive.
The main focus of the Council was BSE. The Commission reported on progress by member states in implementing the new measures adopted in December, as 565W well as on the market and budgetary problems arising from the dramatic fall in beef consumption in many member states. In the light of advice from the Scientific Steering Committee, the Council agreed new rules should be put in place banning the use of mechanically recovered meat from ruminant bones, requiring heat treatment of fat from ruminants for use in feed, and requiring the removal of vertebral columns from cattle. I made clear that the SSC advice required no ban to be imposed on UK beef on the bone and this was not opposed.
The Council will receive, before its next meeting, a package of proposals addressing the problems in the beef market. These will be financed within the budget limits laid down by the Berlin European Council.
The Council also heard presentations from Commissioner Byrne on proposals to improve the welfare of pigs and planned proposals to improve the operation of the Directive on the welfare of animals in transit. I warmly welcomed both and urged the Council to agree to implement the planned improvements for pigs on a faster scale than proposed.
Commissioner Fischler presented new proposals for reform of the olive oil regime and for a pilot scheme introducing a new simplified subsidy to replace certain production-linked aids. The scheme would be limited to farmers receiving no more than euro 1,000 a year.