I hope that the Minister will explain a little more about the inspection and testing process as it applies to imported food. I am concerned about the testing of imports for residues of products that are banned in this country. I would be the first to accept that the Pesticides Safety Directorate with which I had contact on a professional, prior to a political, basis must consider issues other than food safety alone. It must also consider the environmental impact and efficacy of any particular product. However, food safety is a critical, and ultimately the most important, aspect.
Pears provide an example.
That refers to a statutory instrument that laid down a limit for pears of 3 mg per kilo of chlormequat. That is perfectly reasonable, and no doubt she will be taking the necessary action on those samples that showed a residue in UK domestic products. However, I should like to challenge her as to how she can justify banning such a product in this country because any residue is clearly unacceptable while an imported pear can carry 3 mg per kilo of the same active ingredient. The press release also refers to a monitoring programme to allow legal action against growers and retailers. A product that is tested because it has been taken off a supermarket shelf somewhere in the country could, if it is an imported product, be part of a consignment that is spread far and wide across the length and breadth of the United Kingdom.