§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what checks are made for the presence of nitrofurans and chloramphenicol in chicken imported into the United Kingdom(a) directly from non-EU countries and (b) from a third country via another EU member state. [64117]
§ Ms BlearsI have been asked to reply.
Chloramphenicol and nitrofurans are veterinary medicines no longer permitted in the European Union for use in food producing animals and therefore residues of these chemicals should not be present in food.
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Title Format that results were published National Gallery/National Portrait Gallery Review: stage one consultation Summary of the views of consultees was published on the Department website and copies were also placed in the libraries of both Houses. National Heritage Memorial Fund Review: stage one consultation Results not yet published. Report of the Gambling Review Body Results of the consultation were published in A safe bet for success (Cm 5397). In addition, copies of all the substantive responses (unless respondents requested otherwise) were placed in the libraries of both Houses. National Museum of Science & Industry Review: stage one consultation Summary of the views of consultees was published on the Department website and copies were also placed in the libraries of both Houses. Geffrye Museum/Horniman Museum/Museum of London Review: stage one consultation All responses (unless respondents requested otherwise) and a summary of the views of consultees were published on the Department website and placed in the libraries of both Houses. Consultation on the draft Digital Television Action Plan Responses to the consultation were confidential but they informed the content of a revised Digital Television Action Plan, which was published on 20 December 2001. English Heritage Review: stage one consultation Summary of the views of consultees was published on the Department website. Public Lending Right. Quinquennial Performance Review: Consultation Paper Results not yet published. Quinquennial Review on the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art Results not yet published. National Maritime Museum Quinquennial Performance Review Results not yet published. Consultation on Media Ownership Rules All responses (unless respondents requested otherwise) and a summary of responses were published on the Department website. Imports of products of animal origin for human consumption such as poultry meat to the United Kingdom from third countries are subject to harmonised EU import controls and must enter the EU through designated border inspection posts (BIP). Where the official veterinary surgeons at the BIPs have reason to suspect that poultry meat being imported to the UK direct from a third country may be contaminated with choramphenicol or nitrofurans, they may take samples of the product for testing.
Imports of poultry meat from third countries to other EU member states must enter the EU through designated BIP where they may be subject to checks for chloramphenicol and nitrofurans. Once a food product is in free circulation within the EU it is not subject to routine checks at points of entry to the UK under EU single market requirements.
In response to concerns that poultry meat from South East Asia may be contaminated by illegal residues of veterinary medicines, the Food Standards Agency initiated a retail survey. As a consequence of the publication of these results and others from the Netherlands, an EU Commission Decision has recently required sampling and testing of poultry meat coming from Thailand. This requirement to sample and test applies to all EU member states.
The veterinary medicines directorate also undertakes testing of imported poultry meat as part of its non-statutory surveillance programme. In 2001, 50 samples of raw chicken were tested for the presence of chloramphenicol. No residues above the reporting limit were detected.