§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the transitional arrangements are for the Common Agricultural Policy in relation to the forthcoming EU enlargement. [108814]
§ Mr. MorleyIn becoming members of the European Union, the new member states have agreed to take over and apply EU rules, subject to certain transitional measures, limited in both time and scope. For agriculture, the most significant include the gradual phasing in of direct payments, enhanced rural development measures, and certain veterinary and phytosanitary provisions. In the public health sector a number of time limited and tightly controlled transition measures have been agreed for individually named food production premises to correct certain structural462W defects. Crucially, products from such premises cannot enter the single market. No transitional arrangements relate to the food hygiene acquis.
Further details can be found on the European Commission's website: europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/negotiations/chapters/negotiationsguide.pdf and in the Government's forthcoming Explanatory Memorandum on the Accession Treaty.