§ Lord Vinsonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What quantity of meat products have been imported into the United Kingdom from countries that have endemic foot and mouth disease over the last twelve months. [HL1500]
§ Lord WhittyEuropean Community legislation permits the importation of meat from certain countries where foot and mouth disease is present but only where the disease is restricted to specific areas. Imports are permitted either from parts of the country that are free of disease or under strict conditions that ensure the meat does not come from any animal that may have come in contact with foot and mouth disease before, during or after slaughter.
All meat imported from third countries must be accompanied by veterinary certification. This must confirm that the meat is derived from animals which have been subjected to a veterinary inspection during the 24 hours prior to slaughter and showed no signs of foot and mouth disease. All meat imported into the 33WA UK from third countries must enter at designated UK border inspection posts (BIPs) where it is subject to veterninary inspections.
The table below details UK imports of meat from foot and mouth disease susceptible species* between October 2000 and September 2001 from countries where foot and mouth disease is endemic.
Product Country Total (tonnes) Meat of Bovine Animals** Botswana 11,296 Brazil 81,665 Namibia 8,020 South Africa 354 Swaziland 125 Zimbabwe 6,879 Meat of Bovine Animals, Fresh or Chilled Total 108,339 *cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and reindeer ** There were no imports of sheepmeat, pigmeat, goatmeat or reindeer meat from the specified countries between October 2000 and September 2001.