HC Deb 28 February 2002 vol 380 cc1564-8W
Mr. Yeo

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will provide details of the consignments of beef imported into the UK that have been found to have contravened EU BSE regulations in the last two years. (201)

Ms Blears

A European Union Decision on BSE, effective from 1 October 2000, introduced, among other things, a requirement that all Specified Risk Material (SRM) be removed at the slaughterhouse and disposed of in a safe manner. The importation of meat with SRM attached had been illegal under United Kingdom domestic legislation for several years previously.

Since the EU rules came into effect, there have been 22 instances where consignments of carcase beef imported into the UK from other EU member states have been found with SRM (portions of spinal cord) attached. There has also been one instance where ovine SRM has been found in a half ewe carcase. In each case, the Food Standards Agency has taken up the matter vigorously with the authorities of the member state concerned, and reported the discovery to the European Commission. The 23 instances (22 bovine and 1 ovine)

Finds of Specified Risk Material in Imported Meat
Date of discovery Place of discovery Finding/action taken by MHS Source
(1) 17 January 2001 ABP, Newry, County Down Spinal cord in two of a consignment of 221 forequarters Loblein Teterower Fleisch GmbH Landkreis Gustrow, Germany
(2) 17 January 2001 ABP, Newry, County Down Spinal cord in one of a consignment of 192 forequarters Westfleisch Lubbeck, Germany
(3) 29 January 2001 Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex Spinal cord in one of a consignment of 216 hindquarters. Oldenburg, Germany
(4) 1 February 2001 Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex Spinal cord in one of a consignment of 217 hindquarters. Fleisch-Versand Heinz Gausepohl Bakum, Germany
(5) 2 February 2001 Northern Ireland Remnants of spinal cord in two of a consignment of 230 fore and hindquarters. Liffey Meats, Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan, Republic of Ireland
Operation of plant suspended indefinitely on 8 February.
(6) 1 March 2001 Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex Several pieces of spinal cord in five of a consignment of 216 fore and hinquarters. Fleischverkaufsstelk Kalkar, Germany
Operation of plant suspended on 8 March.
(7) 1 March 2001 Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex Several pieces of spinal cord in seven of a consignment of 188 quarters. Brada's Vleeschbedrijf BV, Leevwarden, Netherlands
Operation of plant suspended 6-9 March.
(8) 2 March 2001 Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex Several pieces of spinal cord in four forequarters of a consignment of 222 hind and forequarters. Mueller Fleisch GmbH, Birkenfeld, Germany
Operation of plant suspended on 8 March.
(9) 5 March 2001 Blackpool Abattoir, Blackpool, Lanes. 8 cm piece of spinal cord in one forequarter out of a consignment of 53 whole carcases. Brada's Vleeschbedrijf BV, Leevwarden, Netherlands
Operation of plant suspended 6–9 March.
(10) 7 March 2001 Matheson Jess Ltd., Dundee, Scotland Spinal cord in two forequarters of a consignment of 158 heifer carcases. Giresa Palencia, Spain
(11) 9 March 2001 Great Harwood Food Products, Blackburn Spinal cord in two of a consignment of 268 forequarters. Fribin S.A.T. Binepar, Spain
(12) 20 March 2001 Great Harwood Food Products, Blackburn Unexposed spinal cord in cervical vertebral canal in 41, out of a consignment of 204 forequarters. Industria Carni SNC Carema (Torino) Italy
Operation of plant suspended 22–29 March.
(13) 21 March 2001 Dungannon Meats, Larne, Northern Ireland Spinal cord found in one forequarter in a consignment of 220 quarters. Kildare Chilling, Kildare, Republic of Ireland
(14) 30 March 2001 Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex Spinal cord found in two forequarters in a consignment of 203. Fleischzentrum Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Slaughter of cattle temporarily prohibited at plant on 30 March.
(15) 30 April 2001 St. Merryn Meats (Victoria), Cornwall Spinal cord found in two forequarters in a consignment of 158 Danish Crown, The Skive, Branipsgade 6, 7800 Skive, Denmark
Plant orderd to re-inspect all cuts of meat for spinal cord. Plant to introduce own checks and demonstrate their efficiency to Danish Food & Veterinary Adminstration.

involved 21 different meat plants from seven member states. It is the responsibility of the relevant national authorities to ensure that meat plants in their territory comply with the EU rules. Eight of the plants have had their operating licences suspended as a result.

Details of the 23 instances are set out in the table:

Finds of Specified Risk Material in Imported Meat
Date of discovery Place of discovery Finding/action taken by MHS Source
(16) 25 June 2001 Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex Spinal cord found in two forequarters in a consignment of 230. Gausepohl Fleisch GmbH, Bakum
Operation of plant suspended on 26 June until 2 July when all the conditions laid down by German authorities had been complied with
(17) 2 August 2001 Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex Spinal cord found in one quarter in a consignment of 240. Fair Oaks Clonmel Limited, Upper Irishtown, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, Ireland
(18) 7 August 2001 Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex Spinal cord found in one quarter in a consignment of 200. Domburg Vlees bv OUD, Bodegraafseweg 43, 2411 HT Bodegraven, The Netherlands
(19) 21 August 2001 Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex Spinal cord found in four quarters in a consignment of 236. Expsl. J. Gosschalk en Zoon BV Oenerweg 2–4 8161 PM Epe, The Netherlands
(20) 24 October 2001 Cumberland Meat Packers Ltd, Coventry Spinal cord found in one quarter in a consignment of 240. Kroot Vlees BV Enschotsestraat 28 5013 BD Tilburg The Netherlands NL 008141885BO1
(21) 9 November 2001 Najib & Sons, Foston, Derbyshire Spinal cord found in one half ewe carcase in a consignment of 127. Awaiting details EEC 522
(22) 15 November 2001 Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex Spinal cord found in two quarters in a consignment of 44. NV EEG Slacthuis Verbist Gentse Heerweg 78 B-8870 Izegem, Belgium
(23) 29 November 2001 Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex Spinal cord found in five quarters in a consignment of 196. Vleesgroothandel NV Dierickx Baaikensstraat 12, 9240 Zele, Belgium