asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the powers of the Food Standards Agency to check imported meats for individual purchase are equally applicable to meat for the catering trade and meat for processed food products.[HL6782]

We have been advised by the Food Standards Agency that all foods of animal origin, including meat imported to the United Kingdom from outside the European Union, are subject to harmonised EU import controls at designated border inspection posts by local authorities. These include documentary and identity checks and a prescribed proportion are subject to physical checks. These powers are equally applicable whether the meat is destined for retail trade, the catering trade or for processed food products.

In addition to controls at the point of entry, imported food may be subject to further checks throughout the food chain and subject to the same controls as food produced in the UK.