§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which government department is responsible for detecting and intercepting the illegal import of bushmeat at Britain's airports; whether they will give the number of staff employed for this purpose at each of the airports at which commercial flights arrive from Africa; and how many seizures of such bushmeat have been made at each airport in 2002. [HL3197]
§ Lord WhittyResponsibility for checks on imports of meat and meat products (not just so-called "bushmeat" which does not have a clear definition) at points of entry are the responsibility of the local or port health authority and it is for the appropriate local authority to deploy staff according to the volume and nature of products imported. Most of the staff also undertake a range of other duties so the number checking imports can vary from day to day. The total number of local authority staff employed at border inspection posts as at November 2001 was 196, comprising 97 environmental health officers, 48 official veterinary surgeons and 51 support staff.
Where so-called bushmeat comprises meat from endangered species covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), HM Customs is responsible for enforcement. Customs 100WA also seizes other illegal meat discovered in Customs checks of passengers' baggage. In addition, State Veterinary Service staff are also empowered to deal with illegally imported animal products when they are found.
Since April 2001, we have been advised of 1,142 seizures of illegally imported animal products of which 55 have been identified as so-called bushmeat.
§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will consider ways of segregating passengers arriving from particular areas at Britain's airports so that those responsible can more easily intercept illegal imports of bushmeat. [HL3198]
§ Lord WhittyThe Government have no plans to segregate passengers arriving at UK airports on grounds of nationality or where they have travelled from. But in line with the government White Paper, the Immigration Service is moving to more intelligence-led immigration control which will assist in identifying those engaged in the illegal importation of meat and meat products.
Defra officials have met colleagues in other departments to assist in co-ordinating action across government to ensure that rules on the imports of all products are enforced effectively. The Immigration Service has instructed its officers at ports to be vigilant and, where appropriate, to refuse entry to the United Kingdom to those offenders identified as being engaged in this illegal trade.