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Food Imports

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to ensure that food imports meet animal welfare standards imposed in the UK; and if she will make a statement. [22299]

Mr. Bradshaw: This Government are committed to raising standards of animal welfare both at home and internationally.

All food produced within the European Union (EU) that is imported into the UK must meet EU animal welfare standards. However, World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules do not permit restrictions on imports solely on animal welfare grounds. The Government are working with our trading partners to raise the profile of animal welfare issues on the WTO agenda.

Foot and Mouth

Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to monitor the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Brazil; and what plans she has to restrict the importation of meat from Brazil. [19278]

Mr. Bradshaw: Brazil reported an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the state of Mato Grosso du Sol on 8 October this year. The Commission advised member states of the outbreak on 10 October, and brought forward a proposal to suspend imports from Mato Grosso du Sol on 11 October. Following discussions in Brussels on 12 October, revised measures were agreed banning imports of meat and offal from Mato du Sol, Sao Paulo and Parana. The UK amended its measures to reflect the changes on 13 October.

The rules for imports of meat are the subject of EU rules. Imports are not permitted from countries or areas of countries where foot and mouth disease is endemic.
 
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The UK monitor the global situation in respect of notifiable diseases. When a new outbreak of a disease is confirmed we carry out an assessment of the risk to the UK and liaise closely with the European Commission and other member states to decide what action is necessary to protect the UK. The UK act promptly in line with Community decisions to ban imports of animals and products from countries or parts of countries that present a risk.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she has taken in response to the recent foot and mouth outbreak in Brazil. [21152]

Mr. Bradshaw: Brazil reported an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the state of Mato Grosso du Sol on 8 October this year. The Commission advised member states of the outbreak on 10 October, and brought forward a proposal to suspend imports from Mato Grosso du Sol on 11 October. Following discussions in Brussels on 12 October, revised measures were agreed banning imports of meat and offal from Mato du Sol, Sao Paulo and Parana.

The UK monitor the global situation in respect of notifiable diseases. When a new outbreak of a disease is confirmed we carry out an assessment of the risk to the UK and liaise closely with the European Commission and other member states to decide what action is necessary to protect the UK.

The UK act promptly in line with Community decisions to ban imports of animals and products from countries or parts of countries that present a risk.

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the safety of beef from Brazil, with particular reference to the incidence of foot and mouth disease in that country. [22164]

 
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Mr. Bradshaw: On 13 October 2005, in line with EU action, the UK banned imports of bovine meat from the states of Mato Grosso do Sul, Parana and Sao Paulo in Brazil due to the foot and mouth outbreak in Mato Grosso do Sul.

We carry out risk assessments of any disease outbreak which occurs in a country which is permitted under EU regulations to export to the EU. The action we took to ban imports from the affected states of Brazil was in line with our assessment.

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the risk of re-introduction of foot and mouth disease arising from the importation of Brazilian beef. [23538]

Mr. Bradshaw: On 13 October 2005, in line with EU action, the UK banned imports of bovine meat from the states of Mato Grosso do Sul, Parana and Sao Paulo in Brazil due to the food and mouth outbreak in Mato Grosso do Sul.

We carry out risk assessments of any disease outbreak which occurs in a country which is permitted under EU regulations to export to the EU. The action we took to ban imports from the affected states of Brazil was in line with our assessment.

Game Birds

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will commission independent scientific research into the welfare impact of the use of battery cages to house game birds; and if she will make a statement. [20551]

Mr. Bradshaw: There are currently no plans to commission research into the use of battery cages to house game birds.

However, the Animal Welfare Bill will seek to establish the general principle that people have a responsibility to ensure the welfare of animals they are responsible for. In relation to game birds, we propose to use the powers available under the Bill to reinforce the duty to ensure welfare by formally regulating their keeping. We will aim to introduce a code of practice to provide guidance on accommodation and management methods and ensure that high welfare standards are met. These arrangements would be subject to consultation with the public and expert stakeholders, and separate endorsement by Parliament.

Greyhounds

Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received on improving greyhound welfare standards at non-National Greyhound Racing Clubs-registered racing tracks. [21822]

Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 26 October 2005]: Defra ran a public consultation on a draft Animal Welfare Bill in 2002. Respondents raised the issue of greyhound welfare at both National Greyhound Racing
 
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Club (NGRC)-registered tracks and the 'independent' tracks. An analysis of the replies to this consultation is available on the Defra website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/domestic/awbillconsultanalysis. pdf

Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate she has made of the number of greyhounds, retired from racing, which are (a) homed and (b) destroyed each year. [21823]

Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 26 October 2005]: The Government does not hold data on retired greyhounds. However, evidence supplied to Defra suggests that there may be a problem with the number of greyhounds which are not properly re-homed when retired from racing.

This summer, Defra set up a Greyhound Working Group to examine issues relating to greyhound welfare, including the fate of retired greyhounds.

Hazardous Waste

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of costs resulting from the illegal dumping of hazardous waste in Essex in the last period for which figures are available. [21020]

Mr. Bradshaw: Waste collection authorities and the Environment Agency in Essex dealt with a total 25,009 incidents of fly-tipping between April 2004 and March 2005 at total estimated cost of £1,263,727. Of these incidents, 297 were Asbestos or Chemical/Oil/Drums.

The total cost estimate is based on the size of incident not the waste type. It is likely that these figures are an underestimate as they come from the first year of the Flycapture database and will not include all incidents on private land.

Landfill Diversion

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria apply when a local authority is considering a private finance initiative response to cope with landfill diversion; whether this will include energy from waste solutions; and if she will make a statement. [22444]

Mr. Bradshaw: Proposed PFI projects must meet value for money criteria. These general PFI criteria are set out in the PFI Project Support Guide issued by HM Treasury, available at www.local.odpm.gov.uk/pfi/pfisupport.pdf.

A set of waste-specific PFI criteria were introduced in 2000 and ensure that projects focus on recycling-led solutions and sustainable solutions in keeping with the waste hierarchy. These criteria were amended in 2003 and can be found at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/localauth/funding/pfi/criteria.htm.

Revisions to these criteria are currently the subject of consultation. The revised criteria set out formally points that are already enshrined in guidance and good practice already being encouraged for authorities bidding for credits over the last two years.
 
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The criteria emphasise that waste strategies should pay due regard to the waste hierarchy. The Government support the use of incineration with energy recovery for the disposal of residual waste left following re-use and recycling, or where materials cannot be safely or practically re-used or recycled.

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