Written question asked by Laurence Robertson (Conservative) on Tuesday, 28 February 2017, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 6 March 2017 (named day). It was answered by George Eustice (Conservative) on Monday, 6 March 2017 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Sheep Meat: New Zealand

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what checks are carried out to ensure that lamb imports from New Zealand are whole carcasses and not part joints.

Answer: New Zealand is able to export up to 288,254 tonnes of sheepmeat duty free to the EU under a tariff rate quota. The rules governing the operation of the quota laid down in Commission Regulation (EU) No 1354/2011 express the quota in terms of carcase weight equivalent. Operators in New Zealand are able to use the quota to export lamb joints and cuts, as well as carcasses, and the Regulation lays down a series of coefficients to convert boneless and bone-in cuts into a carcase weight equivalent. Veterinary checks on products of animal origin are carried out by Port Health Authorities at Border Inspection Posts. Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) customs declaration processes for non-EU imports ensure that all products of animal origin have been issued with a valid Common Veterinary Entry Document (CVED) before the consignment is cleared by customs in the UK.

Secondary information