asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is satisfied that adequate precautions are being taken to prohibit the illegal importation of lambs from the Six Counties; and, if not, the action he proposes to take in the matter.
Written Answers. - Illegal Lamb Inports.
181.
The prevention of illegal imports is a matter for the customs authorities. Collection of the clawback of the variable premium on exports of all sheep from Northern Ireland is primarily the responsibility of the UK authorities.
Since the outset of the sheepmeat regime in October 1980 the export from here of sheepmeat of Northern Ireland origin was prohibited unless proof of clawback was available.
On 24 August last I made a regulation extending this prohibition to the slaughter in the State of sheep from Northern Ireland, i.e. slaughter for home as well as for export purposes. Discussions are at present going on between the EEC Commission, Ireland and the UK about furthere improvement in the control system.