PIG MEAT IMPORTS

Early day motion 1585, tabled 22 July 2004 by Richard Bacon (Conservative). Signed by 43 members.

That this House commends the British pig meat industry's commitment to high standards of welfare, in particular since the banning of sow stalls and tethers in the UK from 1999; notes the recent report of the British Pig Executive (BPEX) showing a 14 per cent. growth in pig meat imports in 2003; is concerned that 70 per cent. of this 767,000 tonnes of pork and processed pork products come from pigs reared to standards which would be illegal in the UK; notes that BPEX survey showing that 92 per cent. of consumers want imported meat to be produced to standards equivalent to those in the UK; and calls on supermarkets and caterers to respond to consumer demand by not stocking pig meat not produced to UK standards, to use clear and unambiguous country of origin labelling and to desist from using brands that confuse consumers regarding the origin or imported product.

Signatures by party: Conservative 15, Labour 11, Liberal Democrat 8, Labour/Co-operative 5, DUP 3, Scottish National Party 1.