House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 28 Feb 2002 (pt 34)

External Contracts

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which non-accounting and non-information technology external organisations have won new contracts with (a) his Department and (b) executive agencies in each of the past five years, [38744]

(a)

(b)

Jacqui Smith: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Beef Imports

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will provide details of the consignments of beef imported into the UK that have been found to have contravened EU BSE regulations in the last two years. (201)

Ms Blears: A European Union Decision on BSE, effective from 1 October 2000, introduced, among other things, a requirement that all Specified Risk Material (SRM) be removed at the slaughterhouse and disposed of in a safe manner. The importation of meat with SRM attached had been illegal under United Kingdom domestic legislation for several years previously.

Since the EU rules came into effect, there have been 22 instances where consignments of carcase beef imported into the UK from other EU member states have been found with SRM (portions of spinal cord)

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attached. There has also been one instance where ovine SRM has been found in a half ewe carcase. In each case, the Food Standards Agency has taken up the matter vigorously with the authorities of the member state concerned, and reported the discovery to the European Commission. The 23 instances (22 bovine and 1 ovine)

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involved 21 different meat plants from seven member states. It is the responsibility of the relevant national authorities to ensure that meat plants in their territory comply with the EU rules. Eight of the plants have had their operating licences suspended as a result.

Details of the 23 instances are set out in the table:

jenny

Finds of Specified Risk Material in Imported Meat

Date of discovery Place of discovery Finding/action taken by MHS Source

(1) 17 January 2001 ABP, Newry, County Down Spinal cord in two of a consignment of 221 forequarters. Loblein Teterower Fleisch GmbH Landkreis Gustrow, Germany

(2) 17 January 2001 ABP, Newry, County Down Spinal cord in one of a consignment of 192 forequarters. Westfleisch Lubbeck, Germany

(3) 29 January 2001 Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex Spinal cord in one of a consignment of 216 hindquarters. Oldenburg, Germany

(4) 1 February 2001 Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex Spinal cord in one of a consignment of 217 hindquarters. Fleisch-Versand Heinz Gausepohl Bakum, Germany

(5) 2 February 2001 Northern Ireland Remnants of spinal cord in two of a consignment of 230 fore and hindquarters. Operation of plant suspended indefinitely on 8 February. Liffey Meats, Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan, Republic of Ireland

(6) 1 March 2001 Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex Several pieces of spinal cord in five of a consignment of 216 fore and hinquarters. Operation of plant suspended on 8 March. Fleischverkaufsstelk Kalkar, Germany

(7) 1 March 2001 Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex Several pieces of spinal cord in seven of a consignment of 188 quarters. Operation of plant suspended 6–9 March. Brada's Vleeschbedrijf BV, Leevwarden, Netherlands

(8) 2 March 2001 Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex Several pieces of spinal cord in four forequarters of a consignment of 222 hind and forequarters. Operation of plant suspended on 8 March. Mueller Fleisch GmbH, Birkenfeld, Germany

(9) 5 March 2001 Blackpool Abattoir, Blackpool, Lancs. 8 cm piece of spinal cord in one forequarter out of a consignment of 53 whole carcases. Operation of plant suspended 6–9 March. Brada's Vleeschbedrijf BV, Leevwarden, Netherlands

(10) 7 March 2001 Matheson Jess Ltd., Dundee, Scotland Spinal cord in two forequarters of a consignment of 158 heifer carcases. Giresa Palencia, Spain

(11) 9 March 2001 Great Harwood Food Products, Blackburn Spinal cord in two of a consignment of 268 forequarters. Fribin S.A.T. Binepar, Spain

(12) 20 March 2001 Great Harwood Food Products, Blackburn Unexposed spinal cord in cervical vertebral canal in 41, out of a consignment of 204 forequarters. Operation of plant suspended 22–29 March. Industria Carni SNC Carema (Torino) Italy

(13) 21 March 2001 Dungannon Meats, Larne, Northern Ireland Spinal cord found in one forequarter in a consignment of 220 quarters. Kildare Chilling, Kildare, Republic of Ireland

(14) 30 March 2001 Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex Spinal cord found in two forequarters in a consignment of 203. Slaughter of cattle temporarily prohibited at plant on 30 March. Fleischzentrum Wilhelmshaven, Germany

(15) 30 April 2001 St. Merryn Meats (Victoria), Cornwall Spinal cord found in two forequarters in a consignment of 158. Plant orderd to re-inspect all cuts of meat for spinal cord. Plant to introduce own checks and demonstrate their efficiency to Danish Food & Veterinary Adminstration. Danish Crown, The Skive, Brarupsgade 6, 7800 Skive, Denmark

(16) 25 June 2001 Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex Spinal cord found in two forequarters in a consignment of 230. Operation of plant suspended on 26 June until 2 July when all the conditions laid down by German authorities had been complied with. Gausepohl Fleisch GmbH, Bakum

(17) 2 August 2001 Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex Spinal cord found in one quarter in a consignment of 240. Fair Oaks Clonmel Limited, Upper Irishtown, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, Ireland

(18) 7 August 2001 Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex Spinal cord found in one quarter in a consignment of 200. Domburg Vlees bv OUD, Bodegraafseweg 43, 2411 HT Bodegraven, The Netherlands

(19) 21 August 2001 Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex Spinal cord found in four quarters in a consignment of 236. Expsl. J. Gosschalk en Zoon BV Oenerweg 2–4 8161 PM Epe, The Netherlands

(20) 24 October 2001 Cumberland Meat Packers Ltd, Coventry Spinal cord found in one quarter in a consignment of 240. Kroot Vlees BV Enschotsestraat 28 5013 BD Tilburg The Netherlands NL 008141885BO1

(21) 9 November 2001 Najib & Sons, Foston, Derbyshire Spinal cord found in one half ewe carcase in a consignment of 127. Awaiting details EEC 522

(22) 15 November 2001 Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex Spinal cord found in two quarters in a consignment of 44. NV EEG Slacthuis Verbist Gentse Heerweg 78 B-8870 Izegem, Belgium

(23) 29 November 2001 Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex Spinal cord found in five quarters in a consignment of 196. Vleesgroothandel NV Dierickx Baaikensstraat 12, 9240 Zele, Belgium

Date of discovery	Place of discovery	Finding/action taken by MHS	Source
(1) 17 January 2001	ABP, Newry, County Down	Spinal cord in two of a consignment of 221 forequarters.	Loblein Teterower Fleisch GmbH Landkreis Gustrow, Germany
(2) 17 January 2001	ABP, Newry, County Down	Spinal cord in one of a consignment of 192 forequarters.	Westfleisch Lubbeck, Germany
(3) 29 January 2001	Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex	Spinal cord in one of a consignment of 216 hindquarters.	Oldenburg, Germany
(4) 1 February 2001	Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex	Spinal cord in one of a consignment of 217 hindquarters.	Fleisch-Versand Heinz Gausepohl Bakum, Germany
(5) 2 February 2001	Northern Ireland	Remnants of spinal cord in two of a consignment of 230 fore and hindquarters. Operation of plant suspended indefinitely on 8 February.	Liffey Meats, Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan, Republic of Ireland
(6) 1 March 2001	Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex	Several pieces of spinal cord in five of a consignment of 216 fore and hinquarters. Operation of plant suspended on 8 March.	Fleischverkaufsstelk Kalkar, Germany
(7) 1 March 2001	Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex	Several pieces of spinal cord in seven of a consignment of 188 quarters. Operation of plant suspended 6–9 March.	Brada's Vleeschbedrijf BV, Leevwarden, Netherlands
(8) 2 March 2001	Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex	Several pieces of spinal cord in four forequarters of a consignment of 222 hind and forequarters. Operation of plant suspended on 8 March.	Mueller Fleisch GmbH, Birkenfeld, Germany
(9) 5 March 2001	Blackpool Abattoir, Blackpool, Lancs.	8 cm piece of spinal cord in one forequarter out of a consignment of 53 whole carcases. Operation of plant suspended 6–9 March.	Brada's Vleeschbedrijf BV, Leevwarden, Netherlands
(10) 7 March 2001	Matheson Jess Ltd., Dundee, Scotland	Spinal cord in two forequarters of a consignment of 158 heifer carcases.	Giresa Palencia, Spain
(11) 9 March 2001	Great Harwood Food Products, Blackburn	Spinal cord in two of a consignment of 268 forequarters.	Fribin S.A.T. Binepar, Spain
(12) 20 March 2001	Great Harwood Food Products, Blackburn	Unexposed spinal cord in cervical vertebral canal in 41, out of a consignment of 204 forequarters. Operation of plant suspended 22–29 March.	Industria Carni SNC Carema (Torino) Italy
(13) 21 March 2001	Dungannon Meats, Larne, Northern Ireland	Spinal cord found in one forequarter in a consignment of 220 quarters.	Kildare Chilling, Kildare, Republic of Ireland
(14) 30 March 2001	Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex	Spinal cord found in two forequarters in a consignment of 203. Slaughter of cattle temporarily prohibited at plant on 30 March.	Fleischzentrum Wilhelmshaven, Germany
(15) 30 April 2001	St. Merryn Meats (Victoria), Cornwall	Spinal cord found in two forequarters in a consignment of 158. Plant orderd to re-inspect all cuts of meat for spinal cord. Plant to introduce own checks and demonstrate their efficiency to Danish Food & Veterinary Adminstration.	Danish Crown, The Skive, Brarupsgade 6, 7800 Skive, Denmark
(16) 25 June 2001	Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex	Spinal cord found in two forequarters in a consignment of 230. Operation of plant suspended on 26 June until 2 July when all the conditions laid down by German authorities had been complied with.	Gausepohl Fleisch GmbH, Bakum
(17) 2 August 2001	Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex	Spinal cord found in one quarter in a consignment of 240.	Fair Oaks Clonmel Limited, Upper Irishtown, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, Ireland
(18) 7 August 2001	Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex	Spinal cord found in one quarter in a consignment of 200.	Domburg Vlees bv OUD, Bodegraafseweg 43, 2411 HT Bodegraven, The Netherlands
(19) 21 August 2001	Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex	Spinal cord found in four quarters in a consignment of 236.	Expsl. J. Gosschalk en Zoon BV Oenerweg 2–4 8161 PM Epe, The Netherlands
(20) 24 October 2001	Cumberland Meat Packers Ltd, Coventry	Spinal cord found in one quarter in a consignment of 240.	Kroot Vlees BV Enschotsestraat 28 5013 BD Tilburg The Netherlands NL 008141885BO1
(21) 9 November 2001	Najib & Sons, Foston, Derbyshire	Spinal cord found in one half ewe carcase in a consignment of 127.	Awaiting details EEC 522
(22) 15 November 2001	Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex	Spinal cord found in two quarters in a consignment of 44.	NV EEG Slacthuis Verbist Gentse Heerweg 78 B-8870 Izegem, Belgium
(23) 29 November 2001	Anglo Dutch Meats, Eastbourne, Sussex	Spinal cord found in five quarters in a consignment of 196.	Vleesgroothandel NV Dierickx Baaikensstraat 12, 9240 Zele, Belgium

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