HC Deb 08 July 2002 vol 388 cc689-90W
Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many ungulates, broken down by species, were imported from non-EU countries into the United Kingdom in each of the past three years; and if she will make a statement. [64360]

Margaret Beckett

The number of ungulates, broken down by species, imported from non-EU countries into Great Britain (but not including imports into Northern Ireland) for the period 1999–2001 is shown in the following table.

Species 1999 2000 2001
Equine 1,767 1,891 1,732
Alpacas (and other Ruminants) 468 1,194 29
Bovine 1,941 482 45
Caprine 13 0 0
Ovine 8 78 967
Porcine 2 0 0
Rhinocerotidae 1 0 1
Deer 0 3 0
Giraffes 0 3 0
Tapiridae 0 1 0

The figures are provisional and subject to change.

Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) when she was advised by the European Commission that in the absence of an approved third country list under Directive 92/65/EC ungulates covered by this directive cannot be legally imported into a Community country; [64361]

(2) what representations she has made to (a) the European Commission and (b) her counterparts in other member states about the implementation of Directive 92/65/EC; [64467]

(3) what assessment she has made of the impact of the implementation of EC Directive 92/65/EC on breeders of alpacas and other camelids in the United Kingdom. [64466]

Margaret Beckett

The Commission gave a verbal summary of its views at a meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health on 10 April this year. We have not yet received formal notification of any changes to the existing arrangements. We have written to the Commission seeking clarification of their position and have alerted them to the impact a suspension of such imports would have on the UK, not only for the well established trade in alpacas but also for breeding programmes of certain endangered species across the Community. There have been a number of formal and informal discussions in Brussels with the Commission and other member states and the Commission intends to introduce harmonised rules for certain species covered by Directive 92/65/EC.