Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to his contributions of 13 December 2012, Official Report, columns 524-42, on live animal exports, what assessment he has made of other EU member states which receive live animal exports from the UK and their compliance to animal welfare provisions that govern the live animal export trade in Europe.
[135861]
Answer
The performance of other member states in relation to their own implementation of, and compliance to, the requirements of Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005, is monitored and reported on by inspectors of the Food and Veterinary Office part of the EU Commission. Their inspection reports are made publicly available. Under these circumstances, it would not be appropriate for the UK to undertake any separate assessment of individual member state performance.