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Animal Tracing Schemes

Volume 506: debated on Tuesday 23 February 2010

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will hold discussions with the Secretary of State for Health in order to merge the Food Standards Agency's livestock traceability scheme with his Department's animal tracing schemes. (316825)

There are no plans to merge the livestock traceability work undertaken by DEFRA and the Food Standards Agency although DEFRA and the agency continue to collaborate closely. For example, Food Standards Agency official veterinarians already make use of documentation required under DEFRA's livestock identification and movement regulations in checking the origin and identity of livestock entering slaughterhouses for human consumption.