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Beef: Imports

Volume 496: debated on Monday 20 July 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will estimate the volume of Brazilian beef imported into the UK which was raised in illegally deforested areas in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. (285558)

We do not hold figures on the volume of Brazilian beef imported into the UK which would link across to deforestation.

For animal health purposes, Brazil is split into ‘safe’ and ‘unsafe’ disease regions, to prevent the arrival of disease into either the UK or EU. The meat imported to the EU must be accompanied by appropriate animal and public health certification and must come from EU approved plants in the exporting country (in this case Brazil).

Any illegal imports of Brazilian meat would be seized, destroyed or re-exported.

We are working hard internationally, including under the UNFCCC to find ways of helping developing countries to address deforestation. The approach aims to provide incentives to reduce deforestation through reflecting the real value of forests, including their role in reducing emissions.