ILLEGAL MEAT IMPORTS

Early day motion 543, tabled 19 December 2006 by Peter Ainsworth (Conservative). Signed by 66 members.

That this House notes with concern that an estimated average of 12,000 tonnes of meat products enter the country illegally each year from countries outside the EU; recognises that illegal meat imports present serious risks to both animal and human health, and threaten the survival of many species in the wild; recalls the £10 billion cost of the most recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease; deplores the Government's inaction on tackling illegal meat imports; is appalled that the number of sniffer dogs to detect products of animal origin at UK ports and airports has fallen in the last year; and calls on the Government to improve border security and pay due attention to the prevention of the incidence of illegal meat imports.

Signatures by party: Conservative 45, Labour 8, Liberal Democrat 7, DUP 2, Plaid Cymru 2, Scottish National Party 1, UUP 1.