HC Deb 11 April 2002 vol 383 cc584-6W
Adam Price

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures the Government are introducing to curb the importation of illegal meats. [35710]

Mr. Morley

On 28 March the Government published an action plan which commits it to a range of measures to reduce disease risks presented by illicit imports of animal products. A copy of the plan is being placed in the Libraries of the House.

Mr. Alan Reid

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what progress has been made with investigations into the feasibility of using x-ray machines to detect illegal meat imports; and if she will make a statement; [47912]

(2) What progress has been made with the pilot scheme for dogs to sniff out meat which is being brought into the country illegally; and if she will make a statement; [47913]

(3) What plans she has to make the Products of Animal Origin (Import and Export) Regulations 1996 more effective; and if she will make a statement; [47914]

(4) What material is issued to inform people travelling to the UK of the regulations regarding personal imports of meat and the penalties for importing meat illegally. [48390]

Mr. Morley

The Government has published an action plan, the aim of which is to reduce the risk of exotic animal and plant diseases entering the country. The plan takes account of recent discussions the Government has had with stakeholder interests on the priorities and actions for the coming year to tackle the issue of illegal imports. A copy of the plan has been placed in the library of the House. It contains a range of measures, including those listed in these questions.

We are gathering information to help examine the potential benefits of using x-ray equipment to scan containers and personal baggage to detect illegal imports, leading if successful to a trial. On the use of dogs, we are working towards commencing a pilot this summer.

Enforcement officers will be given new powers (already available to customs officers) in April to search baggage, etc for illegal imports of animal products. The central and local government agencies involved in importation of food and other goods are working closely together to achieve effective inter-agency co-ordination of checks, and which will include discussions about how these search powers will be used.

Information about our import rules has been provided to Embassies to publicise locally through travel agents and when visas are issued. Posters have been put on display in the arrival baggage halls at UK airports advising of the penalties for smuggling animal and plant products. Information on restricted produce is also contained in HM Customs' Guide for travellers entering the UK, and which can be viewed on-line at http://www.hmce.gov.uk/forms/notices. Further publicity measures will be developed.

Mr. Levitt

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what outbreaks of disease in animals in Britain have been linked to the import of illegal meat products in the past five years. [46789]

Mr. Morley

We cannot be certain as to the precise origin of the Classical Swine Fever and Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks in 2000 and 2001. However, absence of any evidence that these diseases were introduced through the import of live animals suggests infected meat or meat products are the source. The precise route for introducing infection is likely to remain unknown, though the controls in place for legal imports point to an illegal or inadvertent introduction.

Mrs. Ann Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the role of her Department has been in checks on illegal meat imports at airports in the last two years; and if she will make a statement. [46383]

Mr. Morley

DEFRA has lead responsibility for animal health controls on imports of meat, working with the Food Standards Agency which has responsibility for public health aspects, and HM Customs, the devolved administrations, and Local and Port Health Authorities. The last two years has seen greater co-operation between these authorities.

The Department held a meeting on 21 March with all the public enforcement authorities, the ports, airports, airlines, agriculture and food industry to intensify efforts to reduce illegal meat imports.