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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her Department's policy is on the importing of (a) fur and fur products, (b) foie gras and (c) hunting trophies; and if she will make a statement.

Asked by

Laurence Robertson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

25 January 2023

Reference

120844

House

House of Commons

Wines: Imports

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will remove the requirement for imported wines to carry VI-1 certificates; and if he will make a statement.

Asked by

Laurence Robertson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

10 September 2021

Reference

44188

House

House of Commons

Horses: Customs and VAT

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of the removal of customs and VAT guarantees for the temporary admission of thoroughbreds to Great Britain for racing and breeding purposes; and if he will make a statement.

Asked by

Laurence Robertson (Conservative)

Answering body

Treasury

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

29 April 2021

Reference

187135

House

House of Commons

Sheep Meat: New Zealand

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.

Asked by

Laurence Robertson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

6 March 2017

Reference

66009

House

House of Commons

Meat Products: New Zealand

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent estimate she has made of the number of part-carcasses that are imported from New Zealand.

Asked by

Laurence Robertson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

1 February 2016

Reference

24132

House

House of Commons

Milk

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of liquid milk consumed in England was imported in the latest period for which figures are available; and from which countries it was imported.

[119664]

Asked by

Laurence Robertson (Conservative)

Answering body

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

3 September 2012

For answer on

5 September 2012

Answered on

10 September 2012

The figures available are for the UK only. In 2011, imports accounted for approximately 2% of the total supply of liquid drinking milk.

For these imports, the following table shows the breakdown by country of dispatch.

Countries of dispatch for UK imports of liquid milk (2011)
Country of dispatch	Percentage of UK liquid milk imports
Irish Republic	63
Belgium	9
France	8
Denmark	6
Spain	5
Sweden	2
Germany	2
Netherlands	2
Poland	1
Lithuania	<0.1
Czech Republic	<0.1
Italy	<0.1
Portugal	<0.1
Romania	<0.1
UAE	<0.1
Latvia	<0.1
Slovakia	<0.1
Source: HMRC

Date

10 September 2012

Reference

119664; 550 cc56-7W

House

House of Commons

Timber: Imports

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department takes to ensure that imported timber has been obtained from legal sources; and if she will make a statement.

Asked by

Laurence Robertson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

10 March 2011

Reference

45364; 524 c1222-3W

House

House of Commons

Food: Imports

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the quality standards of food proposed to be imported to the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Asked by

Laurence Robertson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

7 April 2010

Reference

508 c1416W; 325280

House

House of Commons

Textiles: Imports

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what his policy is on the importation of fur from Canadian black seals for use in making hats; and if he will make a statement.

Asked by

Laurence Robertson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

27 January 2009

Reference

487 c425W; 248340

House

House of Commons

Food: Imports

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of food consumed in the UK in the last period for which figures are available had been imported; what information he holds on the land area used to produce this food; and if he will make...

Asked by

Laurence Robertson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

13 October 2008

Reference

480 c930W;480 c924W; 226579

House

House of Commons

Meat: Imports

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what mechanisms are in place to ensure that meat is not imported from countries which are experiencing problems with foot and mouth disease; and if he will make a statement.

Asked by

Laurence Robertson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

10 January 2008

Reference

470 c748-9W; 174709

House

House of Commons

Meat: Imports

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much meat was imported from Brazil in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Asked by

Laurence Robertson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

11 December 2007

For answer on

13 December 2007

Answered on

18 December 2007

The figures in the following table are taken from HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics.

UK imports of meat and meat preparations from Brazil
	£ million	thousand tonnes
2002	176	132
2003	177	137
2004	198	144
2005	210	148
2006	192	114

Date

18 December 2007

Reference

469 c1469-70W;469 c1469W; 174443

House

House of Commons

Biofuels: Imports

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much biodiesel was imported into the UK in the most recent year for which figures are available; what the primary sources of crops for that biodiesel were; and if he will make a statement.

Asked by

Laurence Robertson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Transport

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

17 December 2007

Reference

469 c992W; 173975

House

House of Commons

Pheasants

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many pheasants have been imported from France in each of the last 10 years; whether bird imports are still permitted; and if she will make a statement.

Asked by

Laurence Robertson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

25 May 2006

Reference

61045; 446 c1917-8W

House

House of Commons

Food (EU Border Security)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with farm Ministers from other EU countries on ensuring that EU borders are secure with regard to the importation into the EU of food products; and if she will make a statement.

Asked by

Laurence Robertson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

13 July 2005

For answer on

18 July 2005

Answered on

5 October 2005

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has regular opportunities to talk to her EU colleagues about a wide range of issues during the meetings of the Agriculture Council.A comprehensive import regime exists in European Community law to ensure that food of animal origin does not pose a health risk. Products such as meat, eggs and dairy products must come from approved establishments in approved countries and must be accompanied by official health certificates. Products may only be imported into the EU via approved Border Inspection Posts where veterinary checks are carried out to make sure they comply with the import conditions set out in law.Imported food, including food not of animal origin, must meet food safety and food standards requirements equivalent to those for UK-produced food, and can be subject to checks on the basis of risk assessment by local food authorities at UK ports and inland to ensure they comply.Emergency safeguard measures to further restrict or control imports may be taken where there is an outbreak of disease in an exporting country, or other circumstances likely to present a serious public or animal health risk.The importation of products of meat and dairy products by individual travellers in their personal luggage is judged to be a potential route by which animal disease could be introduced into the European Union. Following pressure by the Government, new, tighter EU rules were introduced in 2003 effectively banning personal imports of meat and dairy products (including bushmeat). The Government have increased the level of resource available to combat the illegal importation of such products.

Date

5 October 2005

Reference

13199; 436 c2805-6W;436 c2831-2W

House

House of Commons

Egg Imports

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what vaccines have been developed to inoculate against salmonella from imported eggs; and if she will make a statement.

Asked by

Laurence Robertson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

13 July 2005

For answer on

18 July 2005

Answered on

21 July 2005

Products to vaccinate hens against salmonella infection have been developed by the pharmaceutical industry, There are seven veterinary medicinal products authorised in the UK for use in poultry (laying birds) to protect against infections with either Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Typhimurium or Salmonella Gallinarum.These vaccines are used in conjunction with a number of other measures relating to hygiene, biosecurity and management to help protect the hens against certain strains of salmonella of public health significance, In Great Britain a large proportion of the flocks producing eggs for human consumption are vaccinated against salmonella. Vaccination against salmonella of flocks producing eggs for human consumption is one of the requirements of the British Egg Industry Council operated Lion Code. The members operating to the Lion Code produce around 80 per cent. of the eggs in Great Britain. A number of producers who are not members also vaccinate their flocks against salmonella.There is no statutory requirement to vaccinate flocks producing eggs against salmonella. The producer will decide on vaccination of the flock depending on individual circumstances and veterinary advice.In other countries flocks producing eggs for human consumption may or may not be vaccinated against salmonella. Some countries have a statutory requirement to vaccinate flocks against salmonella, and in others the vaccination of flocks producing eggs for human consumption is not permitted. In some countries the situation is similar to Great Britain, where vaccination may be carried out on a voluntary basis. Imported eggs may therefore come from flocks which have been vaccinated against salmonella in some cases and not vaccinated against salmonella in others.It is, of course, important that caterers and consumers follow the advice of the Food Standards Agency on the handling, cooking, and storage of eggs.

Date

21 July 2005

Reference

13123; 436 c1954-5W;436 c1954-5W

House

House of Commons

Birds (Imports)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what restrictions to reduce the risk of disease apply to the importation of birds; and if she will make a statement.

Asked by

Laurence Robertson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

13 July 2005

For answer on

18 July 2005

Answered on

21 July 2005

There are different requirements governing the import of birds from member states of the EU and import of birds from third countries. There are three categories of birds—poultry, captive birds and pet birds. The import requirements are laid down in EU legislation.All poultry and captive birds imported into the EU from third countries must enter at designated border inspection posts where they are subject to veterinary inspections, All consignments are subject to documentary and identity checks. These checks ensure that the import conditions are met. Captive birds and poultry must undergo a period of quarantine. Pet birds from third countries do not have to enter through a border inspection post, but must serve a period of quarantine, This can be at the owner's house where they are inspected by a veterinary officer.All imports from EU countries must be accompanied by agreed health certification. Poultry must originate from approved establishments and come from flocks which have been held in community establishments for 21 days prior to export. Poultry must have undergone health examination by an official or authorized veterinarian, Captive birds must come from a holding and an area not subject to disease. The rules for pet birds imported from other member states are the same as those from third countries.If there is an outbreak of disease in an exporting country Defra takes appropriate emergency safeguard measures as allowed by Community legislation, This may include a ban on imports of animals and animal products from all, or parts, of that country.The situation in affected countries is kept under review and controls on imports are modified in line with community decisions. Safeguard measures are currently in place to ban or restrict imports of animals, meat and other products of susceptible species in respect of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Pakistan, the People's Republic of China, including the territory of Hong Kong, North Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and South Africa.

Date

21 July 2005

Reference

13121; 436 c1947W;436 c1947W

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the measures in place to control the importation of foodstuffs; what the budget is in 2004-05 for the inspection and monitoring of food imports; and if she will make a statement;...

Asked by

Laurence Robertson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

22 February 2005

For answer on

10 March 2005

Answered on

10 March 2005

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will make a statement on the measures in place to control the importation of foodstuffs; [218462] (2) what the budget is in 2004-05 for the inspection and monitoring of food imports; and if she will make a statement; [218463] (3) what inspection facilities are in place at (a) ports and (b) airports to control the importation of foodstuffs; and if she will make a statement. [218464] Alun Michael: The information is as follows: Illegal imports £25 million of new money has been made available over three years 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 to tackle illegal imports of products of animal origin (POAO) and plants and plant based goods (PBG) from third countries. HM Customs and Excise have enforcement responsibility at the frontier for illegal imports of products of animal origin (POAO) and plant based goods (PBG) from countries outside the European Union. Customs have over 3,500 Detection staff who have anti-smuggling responsibilities for POAO and PBG. Within this Customs has dedicated around additional 100 officers specifically to POAO and PBG; 10 POAO detector dogs are also deployed. Food of animal origin All products of animal origin imported from third countries must enter at designated Border Inspection Posts (BIPs) where they are subject to veterinary inspections to make sure they comply with EU import rules. BIPs are approved by the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health. There are currently BIPs at 11 ports and five airports in England that are approved to check imports of products of animal origin for human consumption. The inspection services at the BIP are the responsibility of the local authority. Officers from the State Veterinary Service regularly visit BIPs to offer advice and check on compliance with EU requirements. FVO inspectors inspect BIPs to ensure that they are operating correctly. EU law requires the local authority to recover the costs of the import checks from importers: details of budgets are not held centrally. If there is an outbreak of disease likely to present a risk to human or animal health, Community legislation allows us to take appropriate safeguard action, which may include a ban on imports of meat from all, or parts, of that country. For non-animal food Food imports from countries outside the European Union must meet food safety and food standards requirements equivalent to those for UK produced food, and can be subject to checks by local food authorities at UK ports and inland to ensure they comply. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is responsible for allocating local authority budgets, and funding for imported food controls would form part of the Revenue Support Grant arrangements. The Food Standards Agency has made further specific funding available through grants for local authority sampling and surveillance of imported food. In 2003-04, a total of £600 000 was allocated to 110 authorities and, in 2004-05, £840 000 to 140 authorities. Under the Imported Food Regulations 1997, the person importing food not of animal origin shall provide all such facilities as may be reasonably required for the examination of the food. In practice, facilities are provided by the port operators and vary according to the type of port and the nature and size of the foods imported. We have been discussing with the European Commission the possibility of sharing BIP facilities with authorities checking non-animal food goods.

Date

10 March 2005

Reference

431 c1933-4W;431 c1925-6W; 218462;218463;218464

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, from which countries known to be experiencing outbreaks of (a) foot and mouth disease, (b) avian influenza, (c) bovine spongiform encephalopathy and (d) bovine tuberculosis food may be imported; what safeguards are in place to protect UK consumers;...

Asked by

Laurence Robertson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

24 February 2005

For answer on

10 March 2005

Answered on

10 March 2005

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from which countries known to be experiencing outbreaks of (a) foot and mouth disease, (b) avian influenza, (c) bovine spongiform encephalopathy and (d) bovine tuberculosis food may be imported; what safeguards are in place to protect UK consumers; and if she will make a statement. [219023] Mr. Bradshaw: Defra does not hold a list of countries that are recorded as having endemic diseases such as foot and mouth disease (FMD), highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and bovine tuberculosis (TB). The internationally recognised central source for official information on the distribution of animal diseases is the Office International des Epizooties (OIE). Also known as the World Organisation for Animal Health, the OIE is the world organisation responsible for the collection and dissemination of information on international animal health--it has a role analogous to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Information on countries with FMD, HPAI, BSE and TB can be found on their website, at the following address: http://www.oie.int/eng/en index.htm Community rules establish lists of countries from which food of animal origin can be imported. These lists are complex and can vary depending on the type of product eg fresh meat, cooked meat and milk. In addition to this, most food of animal origin has to be accompanied by appropriate animal and public health certification and has to come from approved establishments. Defra provides information on import requirements in the form of Trader Information Notes (TINs) which set out the conditions under which food products of animal origin should be imported. The TINs are available on our website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/int-trde/misc/tins/ index.htm Safeguards If there is an outbreak of disease in an exporting country, community legislation allows member states to take appropriate emergency safeguard action, which may include a ban on imports of animal products from all, or parts, of that country, pending emergency action at community level. Once community measures are put in place the safeguard measures will reflect them. All meat and milk imported into the EU from third countries must enter at designated border inspection posts where they are subject to veterinary inspections. All consignments are subject to documentary and identity checks. At least 20 per cent. of consignments of animal products undergo physical checks. These checks ensure import conditions are met.

Date

10 March 2005

Reference

431 c1931-3W;431 c1923-5W; 219023

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Food Standards Agency about the quality of meat imported from (a) Brazil and (b) Argentina; and if she will make a statement.

Asked by

Laurence Robertson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

7 February 2005

Reference

211626; 430 c1212W

House

House of Commons

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