§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many(a) airports and (b) seaports there are, broken down by region at which her Department has responsibility for import controls. [86576]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 11 December 2002]: Responsibility for setting policy on import controls at all airports and seaports for animals and plants and their products, and live fish from non-EU countries, lies with Defra and the devolved administrations.
As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in the House on 6 November, responsibility for anti-smuggling controls is to transfer to Her 690W Majesty's Customs and Excise, as soon as is practicable. Currently the responsibilities for execution and enforcement of import controls are as set out below.
The State Veterinary Service, part of Defra, is responsible for executing checks and enforcement of the rules at border inspection posts (BIPs) through which only those products referred to in Annex I of Council Directive 92/118/EEC which are not intended for human consumption; or live animals are introduced into the UK. There are 16 BIPs approved for this purpose—five airports and six seaports in England, and two airports and three seaports in Scotland.
Each local authority is responsible for executing the import checks rules within its area for products of animal origin other than those products mentioned above. These are carried out at approved BIPs as set out below:
Local authorities are also responsible for enforcing the import rules in their areas, whether they include BIPs or not.
England 18 ports 5 airports Wales 1 port Scotland 4 ports 1 airport Northern Ireland 1 port 1 airport Responsibility for checks to protect plant health of imported plants and plant produce lies with Defra's Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate at all airports and seaports in England and Wales.