§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the mandate of the EU Scientific Committee on veterinary measures relating to public health is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the United Kingdom representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [63639]
§ Ms BlearsThe mandate for the Scientific Committee on Veterinary Measures relating to Public Health is to answer scientific and technical questions, posed to it by the European Commission, concerning consumer health and food safety, and relating zoonotic, toxicological, veterinary and notably hygiene measures applicable to the production, processing, and supply of food of animal origin.
The committee has met five times in the last 12 months. It is composed of independent experts. one of whom is British.
515WThe committee is accountable solely to the European Commission, which pays the travel and subsistence costs. There are no additional costs to United Kingdom public funds. The minutes of its meetings and the opinions it produces are posted on the Commission's web site.