To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what provisions he is making for cattle slaughtered for human consumption after 1 January 1998, if they were born before 1 July 1996 and have no passport. [14773]

Cattle born before 1 July 1996 are not required to have a passport. Cattle passports were only introduced for cattle born or imported into Great Britain from 1 July 1996; therefore cattle born before this date and presented for slaughter within 30 months are eligible to enter the human food chain.