Zimbabwe

Question

Asked by

Lord Taylor of Holbeach
To ask Her Majesty's Government which authority monitors the standards of establishments in Zimbabwe approved under Commission Decision 94/40/EC for the purpose of importing meat products into the European Union; when they last did so; and where any reports are published. [HL3886]

The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change & Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)
It is the responsibility of the competent authority in Zimbabwe to monitor the standards of establishments in Zimbabwe approved under Commission Decision 94/40/EC to export meat products to the European Union. The European Commission's Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) is responsible for carrying out checks on compliance with the requirements of EU food safety and quality, veterinary and plant health legislation both within the European Union and of equivalent standards in third countries that are approved to export to the EU.

The last FVO mission to Zimbabwe was in June 2003 on farmed ratite (ostrich) meat. The FVO publishes its reports on its website.