Mr. RuffieyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what resources have been provided in the last 12 months to ensure that enforcement officers' searches of suspected illegal meat imports will take place. [76010]
§ Mr. MorleySearches for illegal imports of meat and meat products form part of the normal duties of port health authorities and local authorities. However, in this financial year, an extra £1.5 million has been allocated for checks to be conducted by additional enforcement officers at ports and airports. Defra is matching funding with the Food Standards Agency to provide additional training for enforcement officers on import rules.
§ Mr. SimmondsTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what additional measures have been taken to comply with the new rules and regulations which come into effect from 1 January 2003 regarding illegal import of meat and dairy products; and how much additional funding has been allocated to policing the rules and regulations. [79263]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (England) Regulations 2002 will be amended to bring it into line with the new Commission decision on imports of meat and dairy products for personal consumption. Revised penalty posters are being produced, as well as updated information for travellers and airlines. Guidance to enforcement officers is being revised. Stakeholders are being informed of the changes.
The Government have allocated an extra £1.5 million in this financial year for additional enforcement officers at certain ports and airports.
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§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions there have been for the illegal importing of meat in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [79282]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 4 November 2002]: Figures on prosecutions for the illegal importation of meat are not collected centrally. Responsibility for prosecutions lies with local authorities. We are however aware of one successful prosecution this year, which was brought by Crawley borough council in July. The London Port health authority issued six cautions in October.
§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to increase the checks made at ports of entry to the United Kingdom of illegally imported meat; and if she will make a statement. [79319]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 4 November 2002]: Plans to increase checks at ports of entry to the United Kingdom are at an advanced stage. Additional checks started at two seaports at the beginning of October, are on target to start at a third seaport on 4 November. Two further teams will start work at airports on 11 and 12 November respectively.