§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of BSE controls in(a) Spain and (b) Sweden on the safety of beef products imported into the UK. [144312]
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§ Ms Stuart[holding answer 8 January 2001]: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that assessments of the implementation of BSE controls in European Union member states are the responsibility of the European Commission. Its Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) carries out inspection missions to all member states to check on the implementation and effectiveness of EU BSE control measures. An additional programme of urgent FVO missions is currently under way. Spain was visited in the week beginning 11 December 2000 and Sweden in the week beginning 29 January 2001. The reports of these missions will be published on the EU Commission website, as is normal practice. In the light of the findings, the EU Commission will consider whether any further protective measures are necessary beyond those already in place or under consideration.