Written question asked by Barry Gardiner (Labour) on Wednesday, 11 February 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 3 March 2004. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Wednesday, 3 March 2004 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has for the establishment of a single agency to address legal and illegal imports of food.

Answer: Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for the establishment of a single agency to address legal and illegal imports of food. [155392] Mr. Bradshaw: In its response to the Reports of the Foot and Mouth Disease inquiries in November 2002, the Government said that there was a case for a single agency to oversee all aspects of the management of the legal trade in imported foodstuffs, but that we would first aim to secure a step change in the co-ordination and delivery of local authority inspection of imported foodstuffs and products of animal origin within one year. We will review the first year's program with the step change project, which has been co-ordinated by the Food Standards Agency and in the light of that consider the case for an agency later in the Spring. Responsibility for anti-smuggling checks on illegal imports of food was transferred to HM Customs and Excise in April 2003. The Government have no plans for changes in those responsibilities.

Secondary information