Vol. 526 No. 1
174 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development whether Statutory Instrument 87 of 1996 was implemented; if it excluded the importation of all bovine products from the United Kingdom; if this regulation is still in force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25989/00]
The importation of bovine animals and products derived from such animals of United Kingdom origin was prohibited under the provisions of the European Communities (Importation of Bovine Animals and Products obtained from Bovine Animals from the United Kingdom) Regulations, 1996 (S.I. No. 87 of 1996). Commission Decision 96/239/EC dated 27 March 1996, as amended by Commission Decision 96/362/EC 11 June 1996, permitted the exportation from the UK of meat products not derived from bovines slaughtered in the UK. In effect this allowed meat products of non UK origin to be processed in the UK under certain conditions and certified for export.
With the introduction of the European Communities (Importation of Bovine Animals and Products obtained from Bovine Animals from the United Kingdom) Regulations, 1999 (S.I. No. 464 of 1999), S.I. No. 87 of 1996 was revoked. The 1999 regulations permit the importation of deboned fresh beef, minced meat, meat preparations and meat products of UK origin provided that the products are sourced under the EU approved date-based export scheme and approved premises in the UK and from bovines under the export certified herd scheme in Northern Ireland. The regulations maintain the prohibition on the importation of live bovines, bovine embryos, bone-in beef, meat and bone meal and bovine meat products not in compliance with Council Decision 98/256/EC, as amended.
