§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on how food products from those parts of the 415W EU where regulation is poorly applied will be inspected by the relevant UK authority when breaches of food safety are found. [9432]
§ Ms BlearsI have been asked to reply.
Food products from the European Union, which are freely distributed within the Community, are not subject to any special checks within the United Kingdom. Foods imported from the EU are subject to the same controls and enforcement activity as UK produced food. Where problems are known, checks can be made on EU goods in transit (including at the border) and at destination. Where foods produced within the EU are found to be in breach of EU law, the Community and "competent authority" in the producer's member state is informed via the rapid alert or single liaison arrangements of the Official Control of Foodstuffs Additional Measures Directive (93/99/EEC).
In the case of meat and meat products, which are subject to veterinary checks, any breaches of EU law are reported in a letter to the Chief Veterinary Officer of the producer's member state, which is copied to the Community, under Directive 89/662.