§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if the Government will make the import of over-30-months beef illegal; [144247]
(2) if he will list categories of food product covered by the ban on the sale of imported over-30-months meat; [144330]
(3) what investigation the Government have undertaken into the extent of the illegal sale of imported over-30-months meat in the United Kingdom; what conclusions have been reached; what measures the Government have taken to prevent such sales into the British food chain; and what representations he has received regarding such sales; [144249]
(4) which categories of imported animal-derived products are covered by the ban on sales of over-30-months meat; [144311]
(5) what advice the Government have given to retailers, caterers and consumers on the risks, identification and avoidance of imported over-30-months meat; [144248]
(6) if he will make a statement on the illegal sale of imported over-30-months beef into the British food chain. [144255]
§ Ms StuartThe Fresh Meat (Beef Controls) (No. 2) Regulations 1996 prohibit the sale of any meat from cattle over 30 months of age for human consumption (the over-30-months, or OTM, rule). The only exceptions are meat from cattle registered in the beef assurance scheme (which can be sold up to 42 months of age so long as they have tested negative for BSE) and meat from a list of 14 countries, of which none are European Union member states. The OTM rule does not apply to processed or treated meat or products that contain meat.
There is, however, no ban on the import of OTM beef—it would be against European Union rules on free movement of goods to introduce unilateral measures under article 30 of the European Commission treaty restricting intracommunity trade where, as in this case, the legislative field has been occupied by the Community.
The Food Standards Agency is investigating allegations that companies are importing cow beef (which would be likely to be from OTM animals) for sale for human consumption. Allegations are always followed up, including with the authorities of EU member states, but no evidence of illegal activity has been found to date.
The Meat Hygiene Service (MHS), which is an Executive agency of the Food Standards Agency, enforces the OTM rule in licensed plants. If an Official Veterinary Surgeon (OVS) suspects that meat is from an over-age animal he may ask to see evidence to satisfy him that the meat is from an animal which was not over 30 months of age at slaughter. Local authorities are generally responsible for enforcement in other premises, and the checks which they carry out are determined by the authorities involved. Last November, the Food Standards Agency instructed them and the MHS to step up checks of imported beef. High levels of compliance with the OTM rule have been found and a renewed awareness of 371W its importance has been generated in the trade which resulted in some companies tightening their procurement practices.
It should be born in mind that the over-30-months rule is only the first defence against BSE and that the most risky parts of the animal, the specified risk material (SRM), such as the brain and spinal cord, are removed at slaughter. This greatly reduces the amount of infective material from older cattle, including any that could be included in imported beef products.
The EU requirement, from 1 January, that over-30-months-old cattle must test negative for BSE before being allowed into the food chain will provide some additional protection, though the tests are only likely to pick up infection close to the time when clinical signs of the disease appear.
The agency's advice to those who may continue to feel concerned is that consumers should buy their beef and beef products from reputable sources and that they should ask their supplier for details of the origin and the source of the meat.