ILLEGAL MEAT IMPORTS

Early day motion 18, tabled 6 November 2007 by James Paice (Conservative). Signed by 67 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; believes that posters, leaflets and 11 sniffer dogs are grossly insufficient to prevent illegal meat imports entering the UK; regrets that only one in every 7,413 seizures of illegal meat results in a prosecution; and calls on the Government to improve border security and end the leniency shown to smugglers who are endangering human and animal health.

Signatures by party: Conservative 36, Liberal Democrat 14, Labour 9, DUP 6, Plaid Cymru 2.