| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Horn Products
Mr. Collins: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what restrictions upon the import and export of horns and horn products have been imposed as a result of the BSE crisis; what additional restrictions are proposed; and if he will make a statement. [7941]
Mr. Rooker:
Under the Heads of Sheep and Goats Order, 1996, the heads (excluding the tongue) of sheep and goats of any age other than those born, reared and slaughtered in Australia and New Zealand must be
14 Jul 1997 : Column: 90
disposed of as specified waste material. This would include the horns if still attached to the head. However, horns themselves are not considered to be a risk provided they are removed without breaking into the cranial cavity in order to ensure that there is no risk of contamination with brain material.
The Specified Bovine Material Order 1997, applies to cattle which have died or been slaughtered in the United Kingdom. It requires the removal and disposal of specified tissues (defined as the whole head excluding the tongue, spleen and tonsils of all animals over six months of age and intestines and thymus of animals of all ages).
The export ban introduced by the EU in March 1996 applies to live bovine animals, bovine semen and embryos, mammalian meat and bone meal, products obtained from bovine animals that are liable to enter the animal or human food chains and materials destined for use in cosmetics or medical or pharmaceutical products. The ban, therefore, includes bovine horns for those purposes but not for other purposes, such as ornamental sticks or shepherd's crooks, which can be manufactured in the UK and traded.
Mr. Tyler:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy on the elimination of genetically modified organisms from the food chain. [8038]
Mr. Rooker:
All genetically modified organisms currently in the food chain have been approved on safety grounds following a thorough scientific assessment. I cannot therefore see any reason for preventing their use.
Mr. Tyler:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to lay proposals for a food standards agency before Parliament. [8039]
Mr. Rooker:
We intend to publish a White Paper setting out our proposals or a food standards agency in the autumn, and to consult on a draft Bill early in 1998. The legislation will be laid before Parliament as soon as parliamentary time permits.
Mr. Tyler:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his Department's specific policy on risk avoidance in food safety matters. [8042]
Mr. Rooker:
Risks to the consumer can arise in many different points in the food chain and the Ministry ensures that a comprehensive system of controls and monitoring exists to cover the production of food raw materials, the manufacture of food and its handling and preparation. This combination of controls services to ensure that risks from food are kept to a reasonable minimum. In addition, the Ministry has developed an extensive programme of publicity and advice on food safety issues including food hygiene and nutrition.
Mr. Tyler:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the release of genetically modified organisms into the food chain will be controlled by the proposed food standards agency. [8043]
Mr. Rooker:
It is too early yet to say how the food standards agency might deal with genetically modified organisms for use in food. However it is anticipated that it will take over responsibility for the operation of the EC
14 Jul 1997 : Column: 91
novel foods and novel food ingredients regulation (258/97) and the running of the independent Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes whose job it is to provide safety assessments for these materials.
Mr. Paice:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the Commission to respond to Belize's request for a larger banana quota within the European Union regime; and if he will make a statement on the Government's policy toward the transfer of Banana Licence tonnage between members of the Caribbean Banana Association. [8158]
Mr. Rooker:
The European Union banana regime sets a specific quota for Belize of 40,000 tonnes. The Government have always recognised that this is insufficient to cover the increases in production already in the pipeline in 1992 and, as a result of pressure from the UK, an additional quota of 15,000 tonnes was reserved for Belize within the tariff quota for third country and non-traditional ACP bananas in December 1994.
The Commission made a proposal in 1995 which would allow transfers of unused quotas between Caribbean producers but the Council has yet to agree to it. The UK has always supported this proposal. The current WTO dispute could have implications for both of these issues.
14 Jul 1997 : Column: 92
Mr. Paice:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects a resolution of the appeal by the European Union against the WTO decision regarding the European Union banana regime. [8159]
Mr. Rooker:
The ruling by the WTO appellate body on the dispute over the European Union banana regime is expected in September and will be adopted by the dispute settlement body within 30 days following circulation of the report to WTO members.
Ms Gisela Stuart:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his Department's policy towards the importing of genetically modified soya beans from the USA. [8482]
Mr. Rooker:
The use of these beans in Europe have been approved on safety grounds following a thorough scientific assessment. There is therefore no reason to restrict their import. Under World Trade Organisation rules it is not possible for Governments to demand the segregation of genetically modified (GM) crops which have been approved as safe. However, we will be pressing at a European level for all foods which may contain GM ingredients to be labelled to indicate this even where, as in the case of these soya beans, segregation has not taken place.