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, if she will make a statement on the effectiveness of local authorities in the detection of illegal meat imports that have evaded customs and border inspections.

Answer: Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the effectiveness of local authorities in the detection of illegal meat imports that have evaded customs and border inspections. [155394] Mr. Bradshaw: Local authorities have made and continue to make seizures of products of animal origin inland. Central records do not differentiate between legitimate imports which now fail to meet relevant regulations, shipments that have entered the EU through other member states and any that may have evaded customs and border inspections in the UK.

Secondary information