Written question asked by Tim Yeo (Conservative) on Monday, 6 December 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 11 January 2000. It was answered by Nicholas Brown (Labour) on Tuesday, 11 January 2000 on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Question: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what percentage of the meat and meat offal products of bovine animals that were banned under the Beef Bones Regulations SI 1997/2959 will be eligible for sale under the draft regulations he intends to use to lift the ban on beef on the bone. - Including fact that no information is available on the relative percentages these represent of the products banned under the original Regulations. (Holding answer 9 December 1999).

Answer: Mr. Yeo: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the meat and meat offal products of bovine animals that were banned under the beef bones Regulations SI 1997/2959 will be eligible for sale under the draft regulations he intends to use to lift the ban on beef on the bone. [102059] Mr. Nick Brown: [holding answer 9 December 1999]: The Beef Bones (Amendment)(England) Regulations 1999, which came into force on 17 December, permit the retail sale of all bone-in beef and beef bones for human consumption. In accordance with the advice of the Chief Medical Officers that it would not be prudent to lift the controls of manufacturing uses of bone-in beef and beef bones, these continue to apply. No information is available on the relative percentages these represent of the products banned under the original Regulations, but my primary concern is the protection of public health, based on the scientific and medical advice I receive. This significant relaxation of the beef bones controls has been warmly welcomed.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 102059; 342 c153W
Session: 1999-00
Subjects: Health hazards Disease control Meat Meat products Offal Processed food Sales Retail trade BSE Beef
Legislation: Beef Bones (Amendment) (England) Regulations 1999