House of Commons
Thursday 20 May 1999
The House met at half-past Eleven o'clock
PRAYERS
[Madam Speaker in the Chair]
Oral Answers to Questions
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
The Minister was asked--
Pigmeat
1. Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): What plans he has to ban the import of pigmeat derived from animals fed on meat and bonemeal; and if he will make a statement. [83846]
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Elliot Morley): We will continue to urge retailers, caterers and consumers to take account of quality, animal welfare and other considerations when sourcing pork and pork products. An import ban on such products would be incompatible with our European Union and World Trade Organisation obligations.
Miss McIntosh: Following the Agriculture Committee's positive report on the pig industry, and given the unprecedented difficulties being experienced by the pig sector, will the Government at least ban the import of animals fed on meat and bonemeal whose consumption has been banned in this country? We have unilaterally banned sow stalls and tethers in this country, and have put our pig producers in a very uncompetitive position in relation to producers in other European countries. Will the Government finally, once and for all, act today?
Mr. Morley: What the hon. Lady asks cannot be delivered in the context of the single market regulations. Conservative Members have asked whether measures such as article 36 of the treaty of Rome could be used to ban the import of meat produced from pigs that have been confined to sow stalls and tethers. As there are common standards applying to the European Union, article 36 cannot be used.
I should add that, when there was talk of using article 36 to ban the export of calves going into veal crates, the Conservative Government voted against it.
Mr. Ian Cawsey (Brigg and Goole):
Does my hon. Friend agree that the animal welfare standards that apply to the pig sector in this country should apply throughout
Will my hon. Friend consider the establishment of a specific rendering plant for pork? That would mean that offal could be an asset for our pig farmers, rather than the liability that it is now.
Mr. Morley:
My hon. Friend is right. Tethers are to be banned in the European Union, and we believe that sow stalls should be banned as well--as does the European scientific and veterinary committee.
The price of pigmeat is 20 per cent. higher in the United Kingdom than the European average, which reflects the higher welfare and quality standards of British-produced pork and pork products and the existence of a demand. That demonstrates the importance of concentrating on quality and animal welfare standards.
The Meat and Livestock Commission has discussed with my right hon. Friend the Minister the possibility of a dedicated rendering plant for meat and bonemeal, and we are considering it carefully.
Mr. Christopher Gill (Ludlow):
Has the Minister urged his opposite numbers in the Department of Health and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions to prevail on health authorities and local authorities to obtain only pigmeat and pork products that have been produced according to the high health and welfare standards that pertain in this country? Does he not recognise that it would be reprehensible for taxpayers to fund the purchase of pork from abroad that had not been produced according to the standards that apply here?
Mr. Morley:
My right hon. Friend the Minister has written to local authorities, and all Ministers have taken every opportunity to suggest that local authorities specify welfare and quality standards. However, many local authorities have difficulties in relation to best value, and restrictions on tendering that were introduced by the Conservative Government.
Mr. Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):
Obviously we cannot ban the import of pork, but surely we should ensure that people know what imported pigs have been fed on, as well as knowing what health and welfare standards have been applied. That would at least give our pig farmers a fighting chance. Will my hon. Friend consider introducing appropriate labelling?
Mr. Morley:
The Meat and Livestock Commission and the pig industry have launched a quality British pork label, and many Agriculture Ministers and other hon. Members have attended publicity events connected with the launch. We want consumers to know that what they are buying is British-produced, and produced according to the quality and welfare standards that we know consumers want.
Mr. Tim Yeo (South Suffolk):
Does the Minister not realise that, given the crisis in the pig industry, what Britain needs is a fair deal for British pig farmers? Will he not accept our advice? First, the Government should introduce labelling that shows both the method of production and the country of origin of all pigmeat sold here. Secondly, will the Minister challenge the unlawful
Mr. Morley:
That is very reassuring.
We have repeatedly shown our support for the British pig industry, and there have been discussions in the Council of Ministers about the crisis in not just the United Kingdom pig industry, but the industry in Europe as a whole. As for the French proposals for aid, the Commission is to examine them to ensure that they are compatible with European law.
In relation to the last point, I must repeat that Compassion in World Farming brought a court case to the European Court of Justice about the possibility of using article 36 to stop the export of veal calves to the continent--the same procedures that the hon. Gentleman is now arguing should be used. The then Conservative Government vehemently opposed that suggestion. The court ruled against it, which set the legal precedent that such measures cannot be used.
2. Mr. Ben Chapman (Wirral, South):
If he will make a statement on progress on quarantine reform. [83847]
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Nick Brown):
On 26 March, I announced that new arrangements were planned to be in operation by April 2001, with a pilot scheme beforehand. I am looking at the options, but am minded that the pilot scheme should initially be open to a range of carriers on a range of routes and targeted at pet owners who are likely to come to, or return to the United Kingdom for a longer period than a conventional summer holiday. I am also minded to include guide dogs for the blind and for the deaf in the pilot scheme.
Mr. Chapman:
May I welcome the progress that the Government are making on the subject and congratulate my right hon. Friend on it? It compares favourably with the complete lack of progress under the previous Administration. None the less, many people in Wirral, South are concerned about the facility of bringing their pets home after a period overseas. What reaction has he received from transport operators to his proposals for a pilot scheme?
Mr. Brown:
Some weeks ago, I organised a meeting with representatives of transport operators. Discussions have continued between my officials and those of the different transport operators. The response from all sectors has been favourable and, from most, enthusiastic. Transport operators are rising to the challenge and recognise the potential of the scheme.
Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet):
Will the Minister confirm that it is not a question of keeping just rabies out of this country? Other canine infections are
Mr. Brown:
That is a fair point. As Professor Kennedy outlined in his report, we are proceeding. Officials at my Department are in discussion with officials at the Department of Health to ensure that, as well as protecting against rabies, we take the opportunity to ensure that the pre-entry procedures protect, as much as they reasonably can, against other canine infections.
Mr. Andrew Reed (Loughborough):
I warmly welcome not only the speed with which my right hon. Friend has moved on the issue, but the responsibility that he has taken on. I particularly welcome the announcement that guide dogs will be included in the pilot scheme. However, is he aware of the difficulty of a constituent of mine whose sister lives in Florida in the United States? Her dog is already microchipped, already has a health certificate and would be healthy to travel to the UK. However, there is still a delay on the announcement about the United States and Canada. Therefore, may I urge him to make a decision as quickly as possible, so that my constituent's sister is able to return to the UK with her guide dog as speedily as possible?
Mr. Brown:
I am sympathetic to individuals in the circumstances that my hon. Friend outlines. A number of hard cases have been put to me, but I do not think that it would be right to deal with individual cases at ministerial level before we have the pilot scheme in place. It is the Government's intention that the pilot scheme will lead to a full-scale scheme as quickly as possible. On the question of the United States, I hope to have something further to say to the House in a matter of weeks, but we are moving ahead in trying to get a scheme that will meet the needs of those who wish to bring pets in from north America.
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