§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what information and instructions EU member state Governments received from the European Union in respect of the outbreak of foot and mouth in KwaZulu-Natal last year; [280]
(2) what response the Government made to information and instructions received from the European Union in respect of the outbreak of foot and mouth in KwaZulu-Natal last year. [281]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 25 June 2001]: I regret that this reply has been overlooked. The Standing Veterinary Committee (SVC) first received a report from the European Commission of an unconfirmed foot and mouth outbreak in KwaZulu-Natal on 19–20 September 2000. On 3–4 October 2000 the Commission informed the SVC of two confirmed outbreaks and tabled background information of the action taken by the South African authorities. On 18 October 2000 the SVC was informed 243W of one further outbreak and that a Commission inspection visit to South Africa was expected to take place on 23 October 2000.
On 7–8 November 2000 the European Commission informed the SVC of the outcome of the inspection and indicated that safeguard measures may be necessary. On 17 November 2000 the Commission adopted Decision 2000/739/EC formally stopping imports of fresh meat into the Community from 16 districts in the province of KwaZulu"Natal. On 5 December 2000 the Commission informed the SVC of an outbreak in Swaziland linked to the South African outbreaks. They confirmed that no export certificates could be signed by either country. At the SVC on 20 December 2000 the Commission reported there had been no change in the situation.
As there had been no significant improvement in the situation in South Africa, the Government took a decision to take additional safeguard measures by formally stop imports of meat of FMD susceptible species.
On 5 January 2001 the Government took measures under the Products of Animal Origin (Import and Export) Regulations 1996, prohibiting fresh meat imports from all of South Africa. A note explaining the situation was sent to trade interests on 8 January 2001, as was a letter to all UK Border Inspection Posts at ports and airports. Scotland and Northern Ireland took similar action shortly afterwards.
§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) when the European Union converted its temporary suspension on South African meat imports into a formal import ban following the outbreak of foot and mouth in KwaZulu-Natal; and how the terms of the ban differed from those of the suspension; [213]
(2) for what period and on which products and geographical areas the European Union imposed a temporary suspension of South African livestock imports following the outbreak of foot and mouth in KwaZulu-Natal last year. [212]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 25 June 2001]: I regret that this reply has been overlooked. Technically there is no difference between a suspension and a ban.
In October 2000 the European Commission advised the Standing Veterinary Committee (SVC) that with effect from 21 September 2000, the South African authorities had stopped the issue of export certificates for fresh meat from 16 districts of the province of KwaZulu-Natal following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease. On 17 November 2000, the Commission adopted a Decision to formally stop the importation of fresh meat of foot and mouth disease susceptible species from the same 16 districts by amending the relevant Community legislation. The districts were as follows: Camperdown, Pietermaritzburg, Lions River, New Hanover, Umvoti, Kranskop, Mapumulo, Ndwedwe, Lower Tugela, Inanda, Pinetown, Durban, (including the metropolitan area of Durban), Chatsworth, Umzali, Umbumbulu and Richmond.
In August 2001, following sufficient guarantees from the South African authorities with regard to the control measures taken, some restrictions were lifted. Community restrictions remain in place in respect of the following areas: 244W
the part of the foot-and-mouth disease control area situated in the veterinary regions of Mpumalanga and Northern provinces, in the district of Ingwavuma of the veterinary region of Natal and in the border area with Botswana east of longitude 28", and the district of Camperdown, in the province of KwaZula-Natal.
§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information the letters sent by MAFF to border inspection posts and traders after 5 January included concerning(a) foot and mouth in KwaZulu-Natal last year and (b) outbreaks in other South African provinces. [427]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 25 June 2001]: I regret that this reply has been overlooked. On 8 January 2001, traders and Border Inspection Posts (BIPs) were advised that the importation into England and Wales of fresh meat of FMD susceptible species from South Africa was prohibited unless it was produced before 15 September 2000. They were also advised that certain other products of animal origin derived from FMD susceptible species including meat products, blood and blood products, milk products and colostrum and bones, horns, hooves and products thereof may not be able to meet appropriate EU or GB certification requirements.
On 14 June 2001 a Declaration was issued in accordance with Regulation 35 of the Products of Animal Origin (Import and Export) Regulations 1996 permitting, in accordance with Community legislation, the importation into England and Wales of fresh meat of FMD susceptible species from those areas in South Africa where FMD is not present. Copies of the relevant letter to the trade and the Declaration are available on our website:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/int-trde/default.htmOn 22 June a further Declaration and letters to traders and BIPS were issued in respect of the importation from South Africa of game meat. The letters also clarified the position with regard to imports of sheep meat as a result of an error in Community legislation.