§ Mrs. LawrenceTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those countries from which meat and dairy products cannot be legally imported into the United Kingdom and the reasons in each case. [154430]
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§ Ms QuinAll meat and dairy products imported into the UK, whether from other EU member states or third countries, must have been produced in accordance with Community legislation, which lays down animal and public health conditions. Imports are accepted only from third countries and establishments, which meet those requirements and are approved to export into the Community. The list of countries and establishments allowed importing into the community and the products concerned are available on the Commission's website at the following address: http://forum.europa.eu.int/irc/ sanco/vets/info/data/listes/table0.html
These lists are quite long and are subject to change by the European Commission. Countries may also be listed but have no approved establishments in which case they cannot export into the Community.
Ensuring that member states comply with the obligations in properly implementing and applying the rules is the responsibility of the European Commission, whose Food and Veterinary Office carries out regular programmes of inspection visits to all member states. Responsibility for ensuring that third countries meet these four requirements lies with the Food and Veterinary Office of the European Commission. The UK will prohibit the importation of animal products that do not meet Community standards.