---

4 May 2004 : Column 1384W—continued

Environmental Protection

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when and where she announced the decision to abolish funding for the are you doing your bit campaign. [168806]

Mr. Morley: In 2001–02 following the creation of Defra, most of the campaign's planned funding had to be re-allocated to rural support during the foot and mouth disease outbreak, although some activities continued.

Defra's wider focus on sustainable development issues, and continued pressure on resources, led to the closure of the campaign in 2003, although no formal announcement was made at this time.

Detailed consideration is being given to the options for future communications activity in this area. Thinking will be informed by the current sustainable development consultation, 'Taking it on', launched 21 April 2004.

EU Accession

Andrew George: To 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 Michael: The Secretary of State and her ministerial team have used every opportunity to stress to the European Commission and to the Secretary of State's counterparts in the EU Accession Countries the importance of complying with the EU acquis 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 George: To 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 Michael: All the new member states have agreed to comply with the acquis communautaire (the rules and regulations laid down by the European Union) by the
 
4 May 2004 : Column 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 by-product 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.

Farming

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on farm income levels for farmers in Heywood and Middleton in the past five years. [168435]

Alun Michael: Due to the small number of farms in Heywood and Middleton, there is no robust data available on farm incomes for farmers in that area over the last five years. Net farm income for farms in the EU North Region and for England over the last five years are show in the table.
Net farm income

	EU North Region	England
1998–99	8,272	10,359
1999–2000	8,659	7,981
2000–01	12,456	9,886
2000–02	16,457	13,558
2002–03	18,512	16,435

Source:
Farm Business Survey

Net farm income is the return to the principal farmer and spouse for their manual and managerial labour and to the tenant-type capital of the business.

Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average level of farm income for farmers in Burnley was in the past five years. [168303]

Alun Michael: Due to the small number of farms in Burnley, there is no robust data available on farm incomes for farmers in that area over the last five years. Net farm income for farms in the EU North Region and for England over the last five years are show in the following table.
Net farm income

	EU North Region	England
1998–99	8,272	10,359
1999–2000	8,659	7,981
2000–01	12,456	9,886
2001–02	16,457	13,558
2002–03	18,512	16,435

Source:
Farm Business Survey





 
4 May 2004 : Column 1386W
 

Net farm income is the return to the principal farmer and spouse for their manual and managerial labour and to the tenant-type capital of the business.

Harmful Chemicals

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effect on (i) wildlife and (ii) the environment of exposure to harmful chemicals. [168563]

Alun Michael: The Department has commissioned and evaluated significant research programmes on the effect of harmful chemicals on wildlife and the environment. Some of them have focused on specific chemicals such as pesticides; groups of chemicals with similar effects such as endocrine disrupters; or targeted environmental media such as air, water, soil etc. The Department also funds research into the possible impacts on the environment of using veterinary medicines on animals and fish. The results of Defra funded research are published in the peer-reviewed scientific press and most can be found on our website www.defra.gov.uk.

Illegal Food Imports

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list, with the penalties imposed, the cases since 1994 of illegal food imports where prosecution succeeded. [169651]

Mr. Bradshaw: [holding answer 30 April 2004]: Figures for prosecutions for illegal imports are not held centrally.

HM Customs and Excise have had responsibility for anti-smuggling controls on products of animal origin from 11 April 2003. Since then they have brought two prosecutions in 2004 under the Customs and Excise Management Act for illegal imports, both of which were successful. In each case the defendant was fined and costs were awarded against them.

There have been a number of other prosecutions related to illegal imports since 2000 but not all were tried as offences under illegal imports legislation.

Oysters

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make representations to the European Union to issue a protected geographical indication for the Colchester Native Oyster. [167290]

Alun Michael: Registering a food name under the EU Protected Food Name scheme is one way in which producers can add value to their produce. We are sympathetic to this proposal and the Government are keen to encourage more applications under the scheme.
 
4 May 2004 : Column 1387W
 

An application to register the name, Colchester Native Oyster as a protected geographical indication was received on 7 April. Officials are currently assessing the application against the scheme criteria. If it meets those criteria, officials will work with the applicant group to prepare the application for submission to the European Commission.

---