§ Ian LucasTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the value was of United Kingdom exports of beef to the United States of America in each year since 1997. [133983]
§ Mr. BradshawThe table shows the value of United Kingdom exports of beef to the United States of America since 1997.
United Kingdom Beef Exports to United States of America £ 1997 6,904 1999 3,175 2000 3,160 2001 13,537 Note:
There were no UK exports of beef to the United States in the years 1998, 2002 and 2003 (January to July).
Sources:
- 1. HM Customs and Excise.
- 2. Data prepared by Statistics (Commodities and Food) Consultancy Trade and IT, ESD and Defra.
§ Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the steps the Government is taking to encourage the resumption of beef exports. [134668]
§ Mr. BradshawIt has been possible since 1 August 1999 to export UK beef under the stringent rules of the Date-based Export Scheme (DBES). Beef exports resumed in September 2002 following the ending of foot and mouth disease restrictions and changes to the rules of DBES to make it easier for companies to participate. To date there are four slaughterhouses in the Scheme.
We submitted papers to the European Commission in support of our case for further changes to the DBES and our request for restrictions to be lifted so that the UK can trade on the same basis as other member states in April 2003 and June 2003 respectively. These papers as updated are currently being considered by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). In addition, we have extended the period of rebates on DBES eligibility checks and Meat Hygiene Service supervision charges until the end of June 2004 for slaughterhouses entering the Scheme before the end of 2003. We have also Identified with industry a number of key markets so that lobbying can be targetted effectively.