Subordinate Legislation Committee, 07 Sep 1999

Meeting date: Tuesday, September 7, 1999

Official Report 74KB pdf

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Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning) (East Coast) Revocation (Scotland) Order 1999 (SSI 1999/41)

The next item is paper SL/99/3/4, concerning amnesic shellfish poisoning on the east coast. No specific issues were raised by the legal advice, but questions were raised regarding delays.

SSI 1999/41 is a revocation order of the previous Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning) (East Coast) (Scotland) Order 1999. This instrument was made on 26 August and came into force at 4 o'clock in the afternoon of 26 August, but it was not laid before the Scottish Parliament until 3 September, around a week later. I think the Executive should explain why there was such a long gap, especially when we consider that this order was a revocation, lifting a ban on scallop fishing.

I would also be grateful if the Executive could state when and how it made known to those involved—namely, the fishermen, especially on the west coast of Scotland and the islands—when the revocation became effective. Will the Executive make available to this committee a copy of the press release, or other method of communication, that stated the revocation of that ban?

In our earlier meeting, we wondered how information about shellfish and any other matters would be relayed to interested parties. Perhaps we could ask the Executive to let us know—in case people ask us how they are supposed to know about something that has only been tabled and intimated to them belatedly.

Fergus, this item refers to the east coast, not the Highlands and Islands.

Yes, you are quite right.