Illegal Meat Imports (Hansard, 10 April 2002)

§ Mrs. Ann Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Home Office about the level of penalties for convictions of persons having imported meat illegally into the UK; and if she will make a statement. [44062]

§ Mr. Morley
We have had no discussions with the Home Office about the current level of penalties, which on conviction are up to two years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £5,000. This Department is leading an initiative to address the disease risks posed by illegal imports of meat, and our work will look at what additional or improved deterrents might be put in place.

§ Mrs. Ann Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she intends to make her first assessment of the impact of her Department's recent poster campaign at United Kingdom seaports and airports on the dangers of illegal meat imports and associated penalties; how she intends to measure its effect on the number of illegal meat imports made through UK points of entry; and if she will make a statement. [44061]

§ Mr. Morley
We are continuously reviewing the impact of our poster campaign. We are undertaking market research to help assess the impact of the posters and provide information on how public awareness can be improved still further. We will also be monitoring and sharing information with enforcement bodies during this time to assess the effects on the number of illegal imports. We have improved our intelligence gathering and sharing of information and there is increased vigilance among enforcement officers.
We have commissioned a risk assessment of the animal disease risks posed by illegal imports of meat, the results of which will provide information about what further action to reduce the risk is needed and where this will be most effective.
We are also amending secondary legalisation to generalise powers to search suspect consignments, including personal baggage. We are actively looking at other measures such as warnings on landing cards, use of detector dogs and better use of x-ray technology.