WRITTEN QUESTION P-1143/97 by David Thomas (PSE) to the Commission (21 March 1997)

Subject: Enforcement of hygiene standards in UK abattoirs

Given the allegations made in the letter from the Association of Meat Inspectors that the enforcement of hygiene standards in UK abattoirs remains substandard, is the Commission willing to make available the reports of the inspections made by the Commission services since the beginning of the BSE crisis and to state how many inspections have been carried out and whether the Commission is satisfied with the enforcement of the eradication plan in the UK?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (30 April 1997)

The Commission commenced hygiene inspections of fresh meat establishments in the United Kingdom (as it did in other Member States) in 1985. As required under Council Directive 64/433/EEC on health conditions for the production and marketing of fresh meat ((OJ 121, 29.7.1964. )) the Commission informed the United Kingdom of the results of the checks carried out.

The practice until now has been to report verbally on the spot at the end of each visit to premises and, where possible, in a closing meeting to the central authorities of the Member State concerned. This is followed by written reports on the individual premises seen, confirming the verbal accounts. Such written reports have not been given by the Commission to people who are not part of the competent services of the Commission or the Member States. These practices have been enshrined in Commission Decision 96/345/EC laying down certain detailed rules concerning on the spot checks carried out in the veterinary field by the Commission experts in the Member States ((OJ L 133, 4.6.1996. )), which replaces Decision 85/446/EEC ((OJ L 260, 2.10.1985. )).

Between October 1985 and June 1996 there were 11 groups of missions in relation to the hygiene of fresh meat establishments. The missions comprised 29 inspector assignments for approved establishments and 7 inspector assignments for derogated premises. Written reports have been forwarded in each case to the Ministry of agriculture, fisheries and food. The Commission has also conducted visits in relation to other product sectors, notably in 1994, 1995 and 1996, in the United Kingdom and in the other Member States.

Regarding the reference made to a bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) 'eradication plan' and the inspections carried out in the United Kingdom 'since the beginning of the crisis', the following information can be provided:

Between 20 March 1996, when the Commission was informed of ten cases of a new variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and 7 March 1997, six Community veterinary missions have been carried out in the United Kingdom to assess the implementation of protection measures against BSE, as laid down by the Community. None of these missions was made with a view to assess enforcement of general hygiene standards in United Kingdom abattoirs.

The United Kingdom has only just begun implementation of the selective slaughter programme which is the central element of control of BSE in the United Kingdom. The Commission carried out a mission between 4 and 7 March 1997 to examine this matter. Although the programme is well advanced in Northern Ireland, it is anticipated that it will take several months to implement it in Great Britain. Further missions will be necessary in order to assure the Commission that it is fully and satisfactorily implemented.

The Commission has already provided some inspection reports to the Parliament's temporary committee of inquiry and is willing to provide other relevant information.