Mr. David Lynch:

Each of these proposals is an overarching regulation, designed to lay down principles but not to go into detail on what is to happen. The articles often contain phrases such as “the Commission shall be empowered to introduce delegated or implementing Acts”. That is where the detail will be described. To some extent, we do not quite know exactly how these details will work out. We are agreeing on how the principles will be included in new legislation. We have a long way to go with 28 member states involved. Progress is, accordingly, quite slow.

The area of veterinary medicines is governed by a directive. To comply with the Lisbon treaty, it is necessary to bring all of these rules into a delegated Act. There will be no significant change, just allowing the member states and the Commission to clarify or simplify the rules on it. Again, we will have to wait to see what the details of these proposals will be.

We have a two-tiered control regime in the importation of products of animal origin and plant origin. The Commission is proposing to standardise these rules. There will be a new entry point into the Community called a border control post. Again, the detail of the controls that will be put in place will be fleshed out in the coming years. There are concerns in the Community about the importation of plant products because of recent outbreaks of illnesses from imported bean sprouts in Germany and frozen fruits causing hepatitis. To some extent, the big food safety scares are outside the meat area. Again, we will have to look at the details as they are worked out.