§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government: Why airlines are not obliged to make announcements to passengers on incoming flights that it is illegal to bring food over the allocated amount and plant products into the United Kingdom, and that those found guilty of doing so would be liable to a substantial fine. [HL106]
§ Lord WhittyThere is no statutory requirement for airlines to inform passengers of the restrictions on imports of meat and other animal products. However, Article 2.2 of Commission Decision 2002/995/EC requires member states to make arrangements with international passenger transport operators to draw the attention of passengers to the animal health conditions for imports into the European Community of products of animal origin. Defra and HM Customs are working in co-operation with airlines, and an increasing number are making announcements or showing our information video in-flight.
§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government: What is the current estimate of illegal food imports entering the United Kingdom in tonnes per year. [HL104]
§ Lord WhittyThe Veterinary Laboratories Agency published a risk assessment report on 25 March 2003. This estimated the amount of illegal meat imported annually, on average, to be 7,500 tonnes, with 90 per cent certainty that the amount of illegal meat imported will range from 2,800 tonnes to 17,500 tonnes per year. Copies of the report have been placed in the House Libraries.
The Veterinary Laboratories Agency will re-run the risk assessment to take into account the most recent data on meat seizures, which will result in a possible change to the estimates of the amount of meat imported. This will be part of a project due to report in March 2004.