To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what reports he has received of MRSA infection in UK-produced meat; (147992)

[holding answer 9 July 2007]: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has received no reports of incidents of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) contamination in United Kingdom produced meat. No testing for Staphylococcus aureus is required in UK slaughterhouses nor in other European Union slaughterhouses. Meat from third countries is subject to import controls, but is not routinely tested for Staphylococcus aureus.

FSA and other organisations provide advice on personal hygiene and proper handling, storage and cooking of meat to minimise contamination by micro-organisms. Proper cooking will destroy MRSA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what systems are in place for testing meat imported from outside the EU for MRSA contamination. (148436)

[holding answer 9 July 2007]: Meat from outside the European Union is subject to import controls, but is not routinely tested for Staphylococcus aureus.

All meat from outside the EU imported into the United Kingdom comes from establishments that are under veterinary control and must meet EU standards. On arrival at border inspection posts in the UK the meat is subject to checks by veterinary inspectors. All consignments undergo 100 per cent. documentation and identification checks and a prescribed level of physical checks.