Written question asked by David Lidington (Conservative) on Thursday, 4 July 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 17 July 2002. It was answered by Hazel Blears (Labour) on Wednesday, 17 July 2002 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the risks to consumers of anti-biotic residues in natural sausage casings imported into the United Kingdom from non-EU countries. - (Holding answer 9 July 2002).

Answer: Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the risks to consumers of antibiotic residues in natural sausage casings imported into the United Kingdom from non-EU countries. [68495] Ms Blears: [holding answer 9 July 2002]: Natural sausage casings are not routinely included in the United Kingdom's surveillance programme for veterinary medicines, including antibiotics. Following recent reports that antibiotic residues have been found in natural sausage casings from China and hence might pose a risk to consumers, a European Commission Decision has been implemented whereby 20 per cent. of all consignments of casing from China are required to be sampled and tested for a range of chemical residues including antibiotics. No other countries have been implicated to date.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 68495; 389 c429W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Antibiotics Contamination Imports Meat Meat products Residues Sausages
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk