Meat Imports (Hansard, 25 November 2002)

§ Mr. Lidington
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many spot checks have been carried out on illegal meat imports at each designated port of entry into the United Kingdom since 31 March. [80463]

§ Margaret Beckett
Details of spot checks carried out for illegal meat imports are not collected centrally. It should be noted that during the course of checks for other illegal products (such as drugs), illegal meat imports may also be found and reported.
We do hold information on reported seizures. Since 31 March 2002, there have been 970 seizures of illegal animal product imports reported to the centralised Illegal Animal Products Seizures database.
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It should also be noted that the checks required at each designated port of entry vary depending on whether trade and passengers come from within the EU or from third countries.

§ Mr. Lidington
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the adequacy of warning signs against meat imports at each designated port of entry into the United Kingdom. [80465]

§ Margaret Beckett
We continue to learn lessons about how to improve the impact of our message at ports and airports where there is strong competition for the attention of travellers. Defra is promoting a joint initiative with other Government Departments to review how the impact of the Government's message can be improved at ports and airports.
Posters are one element of the Government's work to raise public awareness of the rules for importing meat into the country.
The information displayed at ports of entry into the United Kingdom varies depending on whether trade and passengers come from within the European Union or from third countries. The Department has concentrated its efforts on increasing awareness of the rules for meat imports at ports of entry for passengers from outside the European Union.
Penalty posters and information leaflets are currently being redesigned to reflect the new EU rules on personal imports of meat and dairy products from outside the EU that will come into effect in January 2003.

§ Mr. Lidington
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many(a) prosecutions and (b) convictions for the illegal import of (i) meat and (ii) meat products have been initiated since 31 March. [80469]

§ Margaret Beckett
Responsibility for prosecutions under the Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (England) Regulations lies with local authorities, and under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, with HM Customs.
We are aware of one successful prosecution brought by Crawley Borough Council in July, and six cautions issued by the London Port Health Authority in October. All were brought under the Products of Animal Origin regulations.
Defra is working with local authorities and with the Magistrates Association to raise awareness of the wider consequences of this offence and to encourage more prosecutions and the imposition of higher penalties.