§ Mr. GummerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements are in place to check against the illegal importation of meat by sea and air, with specific reference to(a) their cost and (b) man hour equivalents devoted to them. [69991]
§ Mr. MorleyConsignments of meat or animal products entering the European Union are subject to documentary and identification checks as well as physical checks, testing and sampling. The proportion subject to physical checks is dependent on the product—for example, at least 20 per cent. of beef, pork and lamb and at least 1141W 50 per cent. of consignments of poultry, game and honey are checked to ensure they comply with the appropriate rules. The cost of these checks are recovered from importers.
Checks on other consignments not declared as meat or animal products are targeted on a risk basis.
There are enforcement officers employed by local and port health authorities, HM Customs and Excise, Meat Hygiene Service and DEFRA who contribute directly or indirectly to policing laws on meat imports. Total numbers are not held centrally.
Targeted checks for illegal imports of meat and animal products are carried out at sea ports and air ports. We do not hold information centrally on the costs of these checks.
Through its action plan published in March, the Government are stepping up activities to improve the prevention and detection rates for illicit trade. Measures include improved co-ordination and co-operation with, and between, enforcement agencies. Certain measures in the action plan measures will have implications for future arrangements. For example the volume and type of checks made will be informed by the outcome of a disease risk assessment, and how checks are arranged, by the outcome of a Cabinet Office review of the current enforcement arrangements. Both reports are due this autumn.
§ Adam PriceTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will make a statement on the Government's strategy to tackle illegal meat importation; [72008]
(2) what steps she has taken since March to tackle illegal meat importation. [72007]
§ Mr. MorleyThe strategy to tackle illegal imports is to assess the disease risks linked to imports; identify the critical control points that need to be strengthened in order to reduce those risks, and to maximise opportunities for the prevention and detection of illicit trade. The strategy is underpinned by improved communication, including campaign to increase public awareness of our import rules and reasons for them.
The various measures we are taking are set out in the action plan published in March, and which have been endorsed by the Curry, Follett and Anderson reports. I refer the hon. Member to our progress report published on 8 July: a copy of which can be viewed on the illegal imports pages on the DEFRA website (www.defra.gov.uk/ animalh/illegali).