Illegal Meat Imports (Hansard, 13 June 2002)

§ Paddy Tipping
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much illegal imported meat was confiscated in the last financial year. [60334]

§ Mr. Morley
We are still receiving data from the enforcement agencies about animal products seized in the last financial year. As at 6 June 2002, we have been advised that the weight of produce seized since 1 April 2001 is about 60 tonnes. We are unable to provide a precise weight of the volume of meat seized because weight has not always been provided and some consignments contain more than one type of product. We estimate however, that about 43 tonnes of the produce seized contained meat.

Developments in methodology for identifying nitrate vulnerable zones

1996 Methodology Proposals set out in "How Should England Implement the 1991 Nitrates Directive?", DEFRA December 2001

Surfacewater NVZs

More comprehensive monitoring network, covering all waters, not just drinking water abstraction points. 491 monitoring points established under Drinking Water Directive (1975). Environment Agency's (EA) Genera] Quality Assessment (GQA) network. Over 7,000 monitoring points established for assessing river water quality.

More data for each monitoring point. One year's data. 5 year dataset (1996–2000) enables a more robust statistical approach to identifying pollution.

Trend analysis to identify waters which "could contain 50 mg/litre nitrate" if action not taken. — Robust statistical technique to identify any additional waters which would be expected to become polluted by 2004 (date of next monitoring review required by Directive), based on 10-year dataset (1990–2000).

1364W

§ Norman Lamb
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many arrests there were in respect of the illegal import of foodstuffs in each of the last 12 months; [54851]
(2) when she will reply to the question from the hon. Member for North Norfolk tabled on 1 May, reference 54851. [61317]

§ Mr. Morley
[holding answer 8 May 2002]Last year, HM Customs and Excise arrested three people for offences under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) involving illegal meat imports. Of these, two were convicted of a CITES offence, both received prison sentences of four months. The third person was acquitted but convicted under a separate Animal Health charge resulting in a penalty of a conditional discharge for one year and costs of £100.

Developments in methodology for identifying nitrate vulnerable zones
	1996 Methodology	Proposals set out in "How Should England Implement the 1991 Nitrates Directive?", DEFRA December 2001
Surfacewater NVZs
More comprehensive monitoring network, covering all waters, not just drinking water abstraction points.	491 monitoring points established under Drinking Water Directive (1975).	Environment Agency's (EA) Genera] Quality Assessment (GQA) network. Over 7,000 monitoring points established for assessing river water quality.
More data for each monitoring point.	One year's data.	5 year dataset (1996–2000) enables a more robust statistical approach to identifying pollution.
Trend analysis to identify waters which "could contain 50 mg/litre nitrate" if action not taken.	—	Robust statistical technique to identify any additional waters which would be expected to become polluted by 2004 (date of next monitoring review required by Directive), based on 10-year dataset (1990–2000).