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Answering member
Morley, Elliot (134)
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Legislation
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Import controls (134)
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment the Government have made of the compatibility of further legislative options for prohibiting the import of illegal timber into the EU with World Trade Organisation rules; and when she expects to make a decision on the...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment the Government have made of the compatibility of further legislative options for prohibiting the import of illegal timber into the EU with World Trade Organisation rules; and when she expects to make a decision on the...
Asked by
Lord Barker of Battle
(Conservative)
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
2 February 2006
For answer on
6 February 2006
Answered on
9 February 2006
The European Commission's proposal to tackle illegal logging, the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan, was adopted by Council Conclusions in October 2003. This included proposals for bilateral agreements with timber producing countries and a commitment that the Commission would investigate ‘additional options' to tackle illegal logging. Government is frustrated at the time it has taken the European Commission to produce this additional options report.One of these ‘additional options' could be measures to prohibit the import of all illegal timber into the EU. This option was raised at a European stakeholder consultation meeting held by the European Commission and the UK's Chatham House (the Royal Institute of International Affairs) in Brussels on 31 January 2006. Some support for the proposal was voiced as well as concern that the effective enforcement of such a ban would demand additional evidence on all imports of timber to the EU. As such demands would be unlikely to be required of domestic producers, this could raise the likelihood of a challenge in the World Trade Organisation.The European Commission will consider all the options and issues raised at the stakeholder consultation meeting and produce the delayed report on addition options by early summer 2006.Once the Report is published, Government will review the applicability of the options presented, including compatibility with the World Trade Organisation, before deciding what, if any, additional measures the UK Government will pursue at a national or EU level.
Subjects
EU countries; EU action; Import controls; Imports; Timber; Smuggling
Date
9 February 2006
Reference
49632; 442 c1363-4W;442 c1363-4W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make an assessment of the options for legislation to prevent illegal timber entering the UK.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make an assessment of the options for legislation to prevent illegal timber entering the UK.
Asked by
Lord Barker of Battle
(Conservative)
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
24 January 2006
For answer on
26 January 2006
Answered on
31 January 2006
As part of the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan agreed in 2003, the European Commission committed itself to looking at additional options for preventing the importation of illegally logged timber into the EU. Government are frustrated at the time that it has taken the European Commission to produce this report and have made efforts at official and ministerial level to assist with its delivery.Preliminary research on additional options will now be discussed in Brussels on 31 January 2006. This will include an assessment of existing national legislation in the UK that could be used to prevent the entry of illegal timber by creating a market for legal timber supplies.
Subjects
Forestry; Import controls; Imports; Timber; Smuggling
Date
31 January 2006
Reference
46428; 442 c306W;442 c306-7W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action the Government are taking to tackle imports of illegal timber.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action the Government are taking to tackle imports of illegal timber.
Asked by
Lord Barker of Battle
(Conservative)
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
24 January 2006
For answer on
26 January 2006
Answered on
31 January 2006
The principal action being taken by Government to tackle the import of illegally logged timber is implementation of the Forestry Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) regulation. This developed out of the European Commission's FLEGT Action Plan, published in May 2003. It describes a package of measures to tackle illegal logging, including proposals that the EU enters into partnership agreements with timber producing countries to establish a licensing system designed to identify products and license them for export to the EU.The Government are delighted that the proposal for a licensing system was adopted by the EU in December 2005, under the UK's Presidency. Government believe that as a first step to address illegal logging, it is necessary to build consensus with producing countries and make sure that we do not discriminate against legitimate trade. The EU FLEGT licensing scheme, with its innovative approach of bilateral trade agreements and development assistance for improving forest governance, will achieve this in the first instance.Although formal negotiations have not yet started with any country, discussions leading to negotiations have been underway with several countries where illegal logging is recognised to be a problem, and we hope that the first agreements will be in place during 2006. The UK is leading the negotiations with Ghana.The Department for International Development (DfID) has recently announced that it will be setting aside £24 million over the next five years for this FLEGT negotiation process and for tackling illegal logging more generally.The FLEGT Action Plan also proposes that the Commission look at other options to tackle illegal logging, including using Government procurement and introducing legislation to prevent the importation of illegally logged timber at a member state or EU level. They will be preliminarily discussed in Brussels at the end of January, after which a final report will be presented at Council to EU Ministers later this year.
Subjects
Forestry; Import controls; Imports; Timber; Smuggling
Date
31 January 2006
Reference
442 c307-8W;442 c307-8W; 46630
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had about illegal timber in the past 12 months.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had about illegal timber in the past 12 months.
Asked by
Lord Barker of Battle
(Conservative)
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
24 January 2006
For answer on
26 January 2006
Answered on
31 January 2006
The Government have used their presidencies of the G8 and EU to really focus on the issue of illegal logging and to promote the FLEGT Action Plan.Illegal logging was one of two topics of discussion at the first ever G8 Environment and Development Ministerial meeting in Derbyshire in March 2005. G8 Ministers agreed to a range of actions to tackle illegal logging and officials will meet in 2006 to review progress. Under the UK presidency of the EU, the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Regulation was adopted at the EU Agriculture Council in December 2005.Defra works very closely with the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on illegal logging and Ministers continually raise the issue of illegal logging at appropriate bilateral and multi-lateral events. In particular my my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for International Development (Mr. Thomas) was present at the first ministerial meeting of the Europe-North Asia (ENA) Forestry Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) process in St. Petersburg in December 2005.Ministers have also engaged in dialogue through a range of outreach events; addressed international stakeholder meetings at Chatham House and participated in Round Tables with Industry. Ministerial evidence was submitted to the Environment Audit Committee in November 2005.
Subjects
Forestry; Import controls; Imports; Timber; Smuggling
Date
31 January 2006
Reference
442 c307W;442 c307W; 46629
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate the Government have made of the volume of illegal timber entering the UK in each of the past five years.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate the Government have made of the volume of illegal timber entering the UK in each of the past five years.
Asked by
Lord Barker of Battle
(Conservative)
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
24 January 2006
For answer on
26 January 2006
Answered on
31 January 2006
The UK is the world's fourth largest importer of wood products. However, we are unable to estimate how much illegally logged timber is coming into the UK as timber is not identified as legal or illegal at Ports of Entry.Once the recently adopted EU Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Regulation comes into force it will enable member states to enter into Partnership Agreements with developing countries and provide them with assistance to tackle illegal logging. This assistance will include a licensing system designed to identify products and license them for export to the EU. It will be reinforced by powers for HM Customs to take a range of actions relating to unlicensed products from partner countries; this will allow member states to prohibit the import of illegal timber from those countries into the EU for the first time.
Subjects
Forestry; Import controls; Imports; Timber; Smuggling
Date
31 January 2006
Reference
442 c306-7W;442 c307W; 46628
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the UK Government's policy is towards legislation to ban illegal timber imports into the EU.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the UK Government's policy is towards legislation to ban illegal timber imports into the EU.
Asked by
Lord Barker of Battle
(Conservative)
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
24 January 2006
For answer on
26 January 2006
Answered on
31 January 2006
As part of the 2003 FLEGT Action Plan, the European Commission committed itself to exploring additional options to tackle illegal logging. This includes looking at outright ban on the importation of illegal timber. Government will need to look at the impact and practicality of such an option carefully, particularly the impact of requiring all timber to be identified as ““legal””; whether that could be enforced and the effect of such a measure on developing countries that rely on income from timber.The UK Government believe that, in the long term, a multilateral approach would be the best way to tackle illegal logging. However, we recognise the need to build consensus with producing countries to achieve this. The Forestry Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) regulation, with its innovative approach of balancing bilateral trade agreements and development assistance for improving forest governance, will play a key role in realising this consensus.
Subjects
EU law; Forestry; Import controls; Imports; Timber; Smuggling
Date
31 January 2006
Reference
46427; 442 c306W;442 c306W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures the Government has in place to quantify the volume of illegal timber entering the UK; and what targets have been set for replacing such imports with legal and sustainable timber.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures the Government has in place to quantify the volume of illegal timber entering the UK; and what targets have been set for replacing such imports with legal and sustainable timber.
Asked by
Lord Barker of Battle
(Conservative)
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
24 January 2006
For answer on
26 January 2006
Answered on
31 January 2006
The UK is the world's fourth largest importer of wood products. However, we have been unable to estimate how much illegally logged timber is coming into the UK as timber is not identified as legal or illegal at Ports of Entry.Once the recently adopted EU Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Regulation comes into force it will enable member states to enter into Partnership Agreements with developing countries and provide them with assistance to tackle illegal logging. This assistance will include a licensing system designed to identify products as legal and license them for export to the EU. This will allow us to quantify the amount of legal timber entering the UK for the first time.The Department for International Development has committed £24 million for its illegal logging programme and we hope under Partnership Agreements, to establish licensing schemes with as many producer countries as possible.
Subjects
Forestry; Import controls; Imports; Timber; Smuggling
Date
31 January 2006
Reference
442 c308W;442 c308-9W; 46631
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what further plans the Government have for legislation on the import of illegal timber within the EU.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what further plans the Government have for legislation on the import of illegal timber within the EU.
Asked by
Lord Barker of Battle
(Conservative)
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
24 January 2006
For answer on
26 January 2006
Answered on
31 January 2006
Following the adoption of the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Regulation by the EU in December 2005, the focus of Government is on its implementation and the development of Partnership Agreements with producer countries.We are waiting the results of the European Commission's Alternative Options paper. We have, along with other member states and civil society groups, been frustrated at the time it has taken the Commission to produce this report. However, we have encouraged the Commission—at official and ministerial level—to make progress and we are pleased that there is now to be an open workshop on analysing future options for EU member states Governments, industry and green groups representatives in Brussels on 31 January 2006.
Subjects
EU law; Forestry; Import controls; Imports; Timber; Smuggling
Date
31 January 2006
Reference
442 c308-9W;442 c309W; 46632
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment the Government have made of the EU Commission's proposals for further action on tackling illegal timber imports.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment the Government have made of the EU Commission's proposals for further action on tackling illegal timber imports.
Asked by
Lord Barker of Battle
(Conservative)
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
24 January 2006
For answer on
26 January 2006
Answered on
31 January 2006
When the European Commission published its proposal to tackle illegal logging, the Forestry Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan, it made the proposal for bilateral agreements and that it would investigate ‘additional options' that went beyond this.Government are frustrated at the time that it has taken the European Commission to produce this report and has made efforts at official and Ministerial level to assist with its delivery. Preliminary research on additional options will now be discussed in Brussels on 31 January 2006. This will include an assessment of existing national legislation in the UK that could be used to prevent the entry of illegal timber.
Subjects
Forestry; EU action; Import controls; Imports; Timber; Smuggling
Date
31 January 2006
Reference
442 c309W;442 c309W; 46633
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are being taken to reduce the amount of illegal timber entering the United Kingdom.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are being taken to reduce the amount of illegal timber entering the United Kingdom.
Asked by
Mark Simmonds
(Conservative)
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
29 November 2005
For answer on
1 December 2005
Answered on
1 December 2005
The UK is taking a range of steps to reduce the amount of illegal timber entering the United Kingdom.The European Commission published its Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan in May 2003. This describes a package of measures to tackle illegal logging, including proposals that the EU enters into partnership agreements with timber producing countries to establish a licensing system designed to identify products and license them for export to the EU.The UK is delighted that the proposal for a licensing system received political agreement at the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 24 October 2005, under the UK's Presidency of the European Union. This will be adopted in December 2005. The UK, with other EU partners, is already discussing possible agreements with timber producing countries, including Ghana and Malaysia. It is hoped that these agreements will be finalised soon. This will mean that the amount of illegal timber entering the United Kingdom from these countries will reduce.The FLEGT Action Plan also proposes that the Commission look at other options to tackle illegal logging, including using Government procurement and introducing legislation to prevent the importation of illegally logged timber at a member state or EU level. Government awaits the European Commission's report, which will allow us to take this work forward, including the options for action at the UK level.
Subjects
Import controls; Imports; Timber; Smuggling
Date
1 December 2005
Reference
33942; 440 c654-5W;440 c654-5W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are being taken to reduce the importing of illegally logged wood.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are being taken to reduce the importing of illegally logged wood.
Asked by
Ashok Kumar
(Labour)
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
23 November 2005
For answer on
28 November 2005
Answered on
1 December 2005
I have been asked to reply.The UK is working to reduce the importation of illegally logged wood through domestic, EU and international action. This action includes, at the domestic level, implementing a progressive timber procurement policy where central Government seeks to procure timber and timber products that are legal and sustainable. This is having an impact on the wider UK timber market.At the EU level, the UK was delighted that the EU Forestry Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) dossier received political agreement at the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 24 October 2005, under the UK's presidency of the European Union. This will allow the EU to enter into agreements with developing countries that export timber. These agreements will provide assistance to tackle illegal logging and back this assistance with a licensing scheme where the EU commits to only import timber licensed as being legal from those countries.At the international level, the UK, with other EU partners, is in discussion with a range of timber producing countries, including the Russian Federation, Ghana and Malaysia about action they could take to tackle illegal logging. The UK is also working with other major timber consuming countries. This included getting G8 countries to commit to a range of actions to tackle illegal logging at the G8 Environment and Development ministerial on 17–18 March 2005, part of the UK's G8 presidency.
Subjects
Licensing; EU action; Forests; Import controls; Imports; Timber; Tree felling
Date
1 December 2005
Reference
32754; 440 c667W;440 c667W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he plans to introduce legislation to prevent the importing into the United Kingdom of wood illegally logged elsewhere.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he plans to introduce legislation to prevent the importing into the United Kingdom of wood illegally logged elsewhere.
Asked by
Ashok Kumar
(Labour)
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
23 November 2005
For answer on
28 November 2005
Answered on
1 December 2005
I have been asked to reply.The European Commission published its Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan in May 2003. This describes a package of measures to tackle illegal logging, including proposals that the EU enters into partnership agreements with timber producing countries to establish a licensing system designed to identify products and license them for export to the EU.The UK is delighted that the proposal for a licensing system received political agreement at the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 24 October 2005, under the UK's presidency of the European Union. Government believes that as a first step to address illegal logging, it is necessary to build consensus with producing countries and make sure that we do not discriminate against legitimate trade. The EU FLEGT licensing scheme, with its innovative approach of bilateral trade agreements and development assistance for improving forest governance, will achieve this in the first instance.The FLEGT Action Plan also proposes that the Commission look at other options to tackle illegal logging, including using Government procurement and introducing legislation to prevent the importation of illegally logged timber at a Member State or EU level. Government awaits this European Commission's report, which will allow us to take this work forward, including the options for action at the UK level.
Subjects
Licensing; EU action; Forests; Import controls; Imports; Timber; Tree felling
Date
1 December 2005
Reference
32755; 440 c667-8W;440 c667-8W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what controls are placed on the import of flowers into the UK in relation to the use of (a) pesticides and (b) environmentally unsustainable practices; and if she will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what controls are placed on the import of flowers into the UK in relation to the use of (a) pesticides and (b) environmentally unsustainable practices; and if she will make a statement.
Asked by
Norman Baker
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
8 November 2005
For answer on
10 November 2005
Answered on
22 November 2005
We do not monitor imported flowers for pesticides residues nor do we have any power to insist that the material is produced in an environmentally sustainable way. However, EU common quality standards require that marketed cut flowers must be free of pesticide residues that affect the visual quality of the product and the Plant Health Order requires that they must also be free from certain plant pests, which do not normally occur in the UK.The Pesticides Safety Directorate is providing technical assistance to Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Jamaica, St. Lucia and Uganda as part of the EC-funded Pesticides Initiative Programme, which covers the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific group of states. Activities include visits to assist the regulatory authorities with capacity building of their structures and processes, and delivering training programmes covering the technical, policy and procedural requirements of pesticides regulation.
Subjects
Import controls; Imports; Pesticides; Flowers
Date
22 November 2005
Reference
439 c1843W;439 c1845W; 27832
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the EU to deliver the report on further legislative options to tackle the import of illegal timber into the EU; what steps she is taking to ensure that this report is delivered before the end...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the EU to deliver the report on further legislative options to tackle the import of illegal timber into the EU; what steps she is taking to ensure that this report is delivered before the end...
Asked by
Andrew George
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
8 November 2005
For answer on
10 November 2005
Answered on
15 November 2005
Government are frustrated at the time that it has taken the European Commission to produce its report on additional options which is already delayed. Unfortunately due to time-tabling issues the report is now unlikely to be delivered until the Austrian presidency in early 2006 and should go for public consultation at the same time.The Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House are producing a report on the additional options available in the UK and my officials have been working with the Commission to support them to deliver the EU report.
Subjects
EU countries; EU action; Import controls; Imports; Timber; Smuggling
Date
15 November 2005
Reference
27785; 439 c1062W;439 c1062W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has made (a) directly and (b) through the EU to the Government of (i) Brazil and (ii) Argentina regarding illegal logging; and what steps she has taken to ensure that illegal timber is not...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has made (a) directly and (b) through the EU to the Government of (i) Brazil and (ii) Argentina regarding illegal logging; and what steps she has taken to ensure that illegal timber is not...
Asked by
David Drew
(Labour; Co-operative Party)
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
31 October 2005
For answer on
2 November 2005
Answered on
9 November 2005
Although the my right hon. Friend, Secretary of State, has not made any recent representations to Brazil or Argentina on illegal logging, the UK Government are involved with a number of initiatives in Latin America.The UK has contributed £14 million to the multi-donor Pilot Programme for the Preservation of Brazilian Rain Forests and is a major contributor to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) which is creating and maintaining protected areas in the region through the Amazon Region Protected Areas Programme. The managers of the GEF have approved or endorsed funding for 29 projects in Brazil, with a value of approximately £150 million. The UK also continues to support projects in the Amazon through multilateral organisations, including the European Commission and the World Bank.On steps taken to ensure illegal timber will not be imported into the UK, under the UK's Presidency of the EU, unanimous Political Agreement was achieved on the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) dossier. This will allow the EU to enter into agreements with developing countries and provide them with assistance to tackle illegal logging. This assistance will include a licensing system designed to identify products and license them for export to the EU. It will be reinforced by powers for Customs to take a range of actions relating to unlicensed products from partner countries. This will allow illegal timber to be prevented from importation to the EU for the first time.
Subjects
Conservation; Import controls; Imports; Timber; Tree felling; Smuggling; Argentina; Brazil; South America; Latin America
Date
9 November 2005
Reference
24693; 439 c486-7W;439 c486-7W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what action her Department is taking in connection with the failure of the US Administration to notify the UK before March of the import into the UK since 2001 of GM maize containing an antibiotic resistant marker of...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what action her Department is taking in connection with the failure of the US Administration to notify the UK before March of the import into the UK since 2001 of GM maize containing an antibiotic resistant marker of...
Asked by
Michael Meacher
(Labour)
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
4 April 2005
For answer on
7 April 2005
Answered on
7 April 2005
Mr. Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action her Department is taking in
connection with the failure of the US Administration to notify the UK before March of the import into the UK since 2001 of GM maize
containing an antibiotic resistant marker of a type that the EU had been advised to phase out; and what steps her Department is
taking to prevent a recurrence of such an event with reference to (a) regulatory controls in the US and (b) the
implementation of controls in the EU. [224888]
Mr. Morley: This relates to the incident in the USA where some batches of Syngenta's GM maize seed intended to be Bt11 actually
contained an unapproved GM maize event known as Bt10. We were informed of this incident on 22 March and issued a press
release on 23 March. Our understanding is that between 2001-04 approximately 15,000 hectares of Bt10 was grown in the USA and
most of the resulting grain was used in the USA. Only 18 per cent. of US corn is exported and the levels of maize exported
from the US to the EU are very small indeed. The European Commission has been informed that an estimated 1,000 tonnes of Bt10 food
and feed products may have entered the European Union (as distinct from the UK) since 2001. We have no evidence at this stage of any
import of Bt10 into the UK.
We are unaware of the original source of the figure of 170,000 tonnes which you quote. There is no evidence that 170,000 tonnes of
Bt10 maize has been imported into the UK; and indeed this figure is an order of magnitude higher than the total annual maize imports
into the UK from the US, which are in a range of 4,000 to 14,000 tonnes annually.
Following Syngenta's disclosure on 22 March, Defra and the Food Standards Agency have been working with the European
Commission and the US authorities to gain information on whether or not any contaminated maize has been imported into the UK. We
continue to monitor the situation closely.
We have written to maize importers to remind them of the need to check imports of maize and other crops for the presence of GMOs
which have not been authorised in the European Union. It is for EU and UK importers to satisfy themselves that imported maize grain
and derived products are approved for use and if material is GM that it is appropriately labelled. Our GM Inspectorate and local
authority inspectors oversee this process.
We understand that the US authorities consider that Bt10 does not present any concerns for human or animal health. Bt10 maize does
contain an antibiotic resistance marker gene (which is not present in Bt11). Although the antibiotic resistance marker is in the
process of being phased out, the European Food Safety Authority has concluded that this antibiotic resistance marker gene would have
minimal, if any, impact on human health if present in GM plants.
I should stress that we take incidents of this kind seriously. We do monitor the supply chain records of GM imports and take
immediate action if evidence or information indicates the presence of any unauthorized GM product. Our priority is to protect the
consumer and environment and ensure there is informed consumer choice.
Subjects
Crops; Genetically modified organisms; Import controls; Imports; Safety; USA; Maize
Date
7 April 2005
Reference
432 c1663-4W;432 c1659-60W; 224888
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species import permits have been granted for (a) wild-caught and (b) captive-bred primates from outside the EU in the last five years, broken down by (i) species and (ii) purpose...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species import permits have been granted for (a) wild-caught and (b) captive-bred primates from outside the EU in the last five years, broken down by (i) species and (ii) purpose...
Asked by
Norman Baker
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
3 November 2004
For answer on
15 November 2004
Answered on
15 November 2004
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species import permits have been granted for (a) wild- caught and (b) captive-bred primates from outside
the EU in the last five years, broken down by (i) species and (ii) purpose of import. [196811]
Mr. Morley: The following table shows the numbers and species of primates imported from 2000 to date.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Species and origin Number Purpose Number
Callicebus cupreus
(Red Titi)
Wild caught 13 Zoos 11
Captive bred 0 Bio-medical research 2
Callithrix argentata
(Black-tailed Marmoset)
Wild caught 2 Zoos 1
Captive bred 0 Bio-medical research 1
Callithrix geoffroyi
(White-fronted Marmoset)
Wild caught 18 Zoos 23
Captive bred 5
Cebus apella
(Tufted Capuchin)
Wild caught 0
Captive bred 1 Zoos 1
Chlorocebus aethiops
(Vervet monkey)
Wild caught 2 Zoos 1
Captive bred 0 Personal 1
Daubentonia madagascriensis
(Aye-aye)
Wild caught 1 Zoos 1
Captive bred 0
Halpalemur griseus
(Grey Gentle Lemur)
Wild caught 3 Zoos 4
Captive bred 1
Leontopithecus chrysomela
(Golden-headed Lion Tamarin)
Wild caught 0 Zoos 1
Captive bred 1
Leontopithecus rosalia
(Golden Lion Tamarin)
Wild caught 0 Biomedical research 1
Captive bred 1
Macaca fascicularis
(Crab eating macaque)
Wild caught 6,361 Bio-medical research 7,347
Captive bred 1,710 Scientific 423
Commercial 241
Breeding in captivity 60
Macaca mulatta
(Rhesus monkey)
Wild caught 0 Bio-medical research 93
Captive bred 275 Commercial 182
Macaca nigra
(Celebes Crested macaque)
Wild caught 0 Zoos 6
Captive bred 6
Mandrillus sphinx
(Mandrill)
Wild caught 0 Zoos 1
Captive bred 1
Pan troglodytes
(Chimpanzee)
Wild caught 1 Zoos 2
Captive bred 1
Pitheca pitheca
(White-faced Saki)
Wild caught 0 Zoos 1
Captive bred 1
Pongo pygmaeus
(Orang-utan)
Wild caught 0 Zoos 1
Captive bred 1
Saguinus bicolour
(Pied Tamarin)
Wild caught 0 Zoos 1
Captive bred 1
Saguinus imerator
(Emperor Tamarin)
Wild caught 0 Zoos 1
Captive bred 1
Varecia variegata
(Ruffed Lemur)
Wild caught 0 Zoos 2
Captive bred 2
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Subjects
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species; Animal experiments; Import controls; Imports; Primates; Wildlife
Date
15 November 2004
Reference
426 c987-8W;426 c991-2W; 196811
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many permits for the (a) export and (b) import of species listed in Appendix I to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) have been (i) approved and issued by UK authorities and (ii) received...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many permits for the (a) export and (b) import of species listed in Appendix I to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) have been (i) approved and issued by UK authorities and (ii) received...
Asked by
Norman Baker
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
19 July 2004
For answer on
1 September 2004
Answered on
1 September 2004
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many permits for the (a) export and
(b) import of species listed in Appendix I to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) have been
(i) approved and issued by UK authorities and (ii) received by UK authorities from other CITES member states since January 2001.
[185890]
Mr. Morley: The number of CITES permits for Appendix I listed species issued by the UK Management Authority since January 2001 were
as follows: 4,126 imports;
1,930 exports; 11,897 re-exports. There is a corresponding permit issued by the exporting country for each Appendix I specimen
imported into the UK.
Subjects
Exports; Export controls; Import controls; Imports; Wildlife
Date
1 September 2004
Reference
424 c802W; 185890
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what action her Department is taking to stop the illegal import of (a) animals and (b) endangered species into the United Kingdom.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what action her Department is taking to stop the illegal import of (a) animals and (b) endangered species into the United Kingdom.
Asked by
Andrew Rosindell
(Conservative)
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
28 April 2004
For answer on
12 May 2004
Answered on
12 May 2004
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action her Department is taking to stop
the illegal import of (a) animals and (b) endangered species into the United Kingdom. [169855]
Mr. Morley: Most commercial consignments of live animals must be imported into the UK via a Border Inspection Post (BIP) where
import checks are carried out by a veterinarian. The only BIPS approved to check live animals in the United Kingdom are at Gatwick,
Glasgow, Heathrow, Luton, Manchester, Prestwick and Stansted airports. There are no live animal BIPS at UK seaports.
Rabies susceptible mammals, including some commercial consignments, may be imported into specified ports and must be pre-licensed
and moved directly from the port of entry to an approved quarantine establishment by an authorised carrying agent. The carrying
agent submits a report to Defra to state that the animal has been delivered to the quarantine premises.
As an exemption to quarantine, cats and dogs may also enter under the Pet Travel Scheme. The animal must enter using an approved
transporter on an approved route where the transport company is responsible for checks on the animals documents for compliance with
the rules of the Scheme. If an animal is entering on an unapproved route then they are licensed into quarantine.
It is illegal to import rabies susceptible mammals into the UK without a licence issued by the Government. The penalties for not
complying are detention of the animal in quarantine at the owners' expense, re-export or destruction. The person responsible is also
liable to prosecution and/or imprisonment.
Accompanied pet birds have to be pre-licensed and under go quarantine under the supervision of a veterinarian at the place of
destination.
Outside border inspection posts enforcement responsibility for ensuring that animals are not introduced illegally rests with the
local authority. The State Veterinary Service (SVS) also take action when they receive information that animals have been illegally
imported.
HM Customs and Excise have a presence at all points of entry and if they find live animals they detain or seize (as appropriate) and
inform the local Divisional Veterinary Manager of the SVS.
The "Washington" Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, more commonly known as CITES, aims
to protect certain plants and animals by regulating and monitoring their international trade to prevent it reaching unsustainable
levels. My Department acts within the UK as the UK CITES Management Authority.
As part of our efforts to stop the illegal import of endangered species a dedicated team of Customs officers is located at Heathrow
airport and they are recognised worldwide as a "centre of excellence".
Furthermore, we are continuing to contribute to the National Wildlife Crime Intelligence Unit, to help counter serious national and
international wildlife crime, including the import of endangered species.
Subjects
Animals; Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species; Government assistance; Import controls; Imports; Wildlife; Smuggling
Date
12 May 2004
Reference
421 c338-9W; 169855
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures her Department has in place effectively to monitor imports of (a) human food and (b) animal feed from (i) EU member states and (ii) EU accession states in respect of their compliance with EU regulations on...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures her Department has in place effectively to monitor imports of (a) human food and (b) animal feed from (i) EU member states and (ii) EU accession states in respect of their compliance with EU regulations on...
Asked by
Andrew George
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
19 April 2004
For answer on
28 April 2004
Answered on
28 April 2004
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures her Department has in place
effectively to monitor imports of (a) human food and (b) animal feed from (i) EU member states and (ii) EU accession
states in respect of their compliance with EU regulations on labelling and traceability. [167417]
Mr. Morley: Imports of Genetically Modified Organisms into and within the EU are covered by existing legislation in the form of
Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release into the environment of GMOs, Regulation (EC) No. 1829/2003 on GM food and feed and
Regulation (EC) No. 1830/2003 concerning the traceability and labelling of GMOs and the traceability of food and feed products
produced from GMOs). All Regulations take direct effect in both existing member states and accession states.
Domestic implementation of the new Regulations (which cover imports of both human food and animal feed) is a devolved competence. In
England, local authorities are under a duty to enforce the requirements. Sample analysis must be carried out by a public analyst
laboratory accredited for GM analysis.
Subjects
Crops; Animal feed; EU countries; EU law; Genetically modified organisms; EU enlargement; Food; Labelling; Import controls; Imports
Date
28 April 2004
Reference
420 c1013W; 167417
House
House of Commons