§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has made to(a) the European Commission and (b) her counterparts in the EU accession countries on the ability of those countries to meet EU (i) animal slaughter and (ii) food hygiene regulations by 1 May. [167321]
§ Alun MichaelThe Secretary of State and her ministerial team have used every opportunity to stress to the European Commission and to the Secretary of State's counterpart; in the EU Accession Countries the importance of complying with the EUacquis communautaire (the rules and regulations laid down by the European Union), and in particular the veterinary and phytosanitary acquis which covers areas such as food hygiene and animal slaughter. Over the last year, ministerial teams have met with colleagues from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, Poland and Slovakia. The UK has also been offering practical help, for example via the Commission's Food and Veterinary Office (FVO).
All New member states have undertaken to meet the EU acquis communautaire in these areas. Some Transition Periods have been granted—as has been the case for all previous Accessions—and will begin on the 1 May, on the basis that they are time-limited.
§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what timetable has been set to ensure that EU accession countries fully comply with EU(a) slaughter, (b) food production, (c) processing, (d) labelling, (e) traceability, (f) hygiene and (g) food safety regulations and standards. [167323]
§ Alun MichaelAll the new member states have agreed to comply with theacquis communautaire (the rules and regulations laid down by the European Union) by the 1385W 1 May 2004 and bring their national rules fully into line with the EU's food and veterinary laws (chapters 1 and 7 of the Accession negotiations), except where they have been granted Transition Periods. The new member states' Accession Treaty, signed in April 2003, granted Transition Periods of up to three years for animal byproduct establishments and agri-food establishments. These have recently been refined with both some deletions and short-term additions (3–12 months).
Some Transition Periods are inevitable, and have been a feature of every Accession, including our own. They permit Accession to take place on a specific date and are exceptional, time-limited, and tightly controlled and monitored by both national authorities in the countries concerned and by the European Commission. Transition premises have to be named and listed; all must be 100 per cent. EU compliant by the end of 2007 at the latest. There are currently a total of 1006 Transition Periods for the 10 Accession countries. Crucially, products from transition establishments cannot enter the Single Market.