HC Deb 06 January 2003 vol 397 cc18-20W
Mr. Hurst

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, food and Rural Affairs what additional measures she has installed at United Kingdom ports of entry to prevent the illegal importation of illegal meat products since January 2000. [87326]

Mr. Morley

Extra funding this financial year has been used for additional enforcement officers to perform checks on imports at a number of ports and airports. We have increased the number of targeted checks carried out this year, especially to provide additional information to assist the disease risk assessment.

Legislation was amended in May 2002 to provide enforcement officers with additional search powers, and written guidance was provided to them on the use of these powers, especially with regard to checks for illegal meat imports in passenger baggage.

Enforcement officers have improved access to intelligence to aid them in deploying anti-smuggling measures. Notably they receive monthly reports of products seized and notified to Defra. This is then entered on the central computer database which was established in April 2001.

We are carrying out a six-month pilot using detector dogs to find illegal animal products in passenger baggage and freight. The pilot is proving valuable in determining the attributes and level of training required for both dogs and their handlers and the back up services we need to support the dog teams.

Trials of x-ray equipment to detect illicit material hidden in commercial freight are taking place at two major seaports.

Public awareness is being increased through penalty posters and information leaflets at airports and seaports. New information on personal import allowances was issued in May 2001, and then refreshed in February 2002. This is being updated to highlight changes on personal import allowances which come into effect on 1 January 2003 as a result of UK pressure on the European Commission to tighten the rules.

Mr. Hurst

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many successful prosecutions were instituted in the United Kingdom against persons accused of the importation of illegal meat in each year from 1995 to 2001. [87328]

Mr. Morley

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 Corporation of London Port Health Authority issued six cautions in October.

Dr. Richard Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the measures being taken to detect small quantities of meat being imported illegally by tourists and visitors; and how many sniffer dogs are available for this purpose. [87726]

Mr. Morley

New European rules on personal imports come in to force on 1 January 2003, from when personal imports of meat, milk and their products will be prohibited for travellers entering the UK from outside the EU and certain European countries. Posters displayed at ports and airports have been revised to reflect the new rules and will be in place by 1 January. These posters form part of our ongoing campaign to educate travellers about the import rules.

Extra funding this financial year has been used for additional enforcement officers to perform checks on imports at a number of ports and airports. We have increased the number of targeted checks carried out this year, especially on passenger bags.

A six-month pilot using two detector dogs to find illegal animal products in passenger baggage and freight is under way. The pilot is proving valuable in determining the attributes and level of training required for both dogs and their handlers and the back up services we need to support the dog teams. Evaluation will take place at the end of the six months, with a view to increasing the number of dogs if they compare favourably to other detection methods. Decisions on this now also need to be seen in the context of Customs' future responsibility for anti-smuggling measures, as announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 6 November.

Patrick Mercer

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the use of dogs in enforcing restrictions on meat imports; and what plans she has to increase this. [87621]

Mr. Morley

A six-month pilot using detector dogs to find illegal animal products in passenger baggage and freight is under way. The pilot is proving valuable in determining the attributes and level of training required for both dogs and their handlers, and the back up services we need to support the dog teams. Evaluation will take place at the end of the six months, with a view to increasing the number of dogs if the cost-benefit analysis compares favourably to other detection methods. Decisions on this and the detector dogs will be taken forward as part of the work to transfer anti-smuggling activity to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, as announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 6 November.