Written question asked by Lord Hylton (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Davies of Oldham (Labour) on Monday, 7 December 2009.

Food: Import and Export

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the simultaneous import and export of poultry, pig-meat, and milk; and whether they will enquire into that matter.

Answer: There has been no assessment of like-for-like import and export of poultry, pig meat and milk and milk products. International trade statistics do not break down imports and exports into the defining characteristics such as product quality or specification on which trade in such products is based. Without this information it is not possible to assess whether a product which has been imported with a particular commodity code is actually equivalent to a product with the same commodity code which has been exported.

Secondary information