§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the prospects for beef exports to(a) Germany, (b) the Netherlands, (c) Italy and (d) France; and how many United Kingdom plants are qualified to export beef. [14787]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 15 November 2001]: It is not possible to make a realistic assessment of future prospects because recovery of our beef exports depends on many factors including the number of plants which seek approval to export under the Date-based Export Scheme (DBES); the conditions of DBES; the results of our BSE testing programme; consumer confidence in the countries concerned and currency values. In addition, prospects for beef exports to France depend on the outcome of the Commission's ECJ case which is expected shortly.
Prior to the foot and mouth outbreak two establishments were approved to export beef under DBES.