Vol. 542 No. 2
242 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the steps he is taking to secure the lifting of the ban on the export of produce to Poland due to foot and mouth disease; and if companies (details supplied) affected by the ban can be assisted in any way in their efforts to re-establish themselves and their product in Poland. [23855/01]
In recent days confirmation has been received from the Polish authorities of an easement of their import restrictions, particularly in relation to live pigs and boar, raw meat, offal, giblets, pork and wild boar meat products not processed at a temperature of over 72ºC, raw pig-wild boar skin, semen and embryos of the above species and all inedible products not processed at a temperature of over 72ºC. Unfortunately the import ban on bovine meat from Ireland still remains in place. With specific reference to the company referred to by the Deputy, which is involved in the export of lambskins to Poland, I understand that difficulties that had arisen in regard to this matter have been resolved and that the export trade has resumed.
