Rural Affairs Committee, 14 Dec 1999

Meeting date: Tuesday, December 14, 1999

Official Report 147KB pdf

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European Document

I think that we have given members more than adequate time to arrive, so we will move to the first item on our agenda, which is the European document on control of fish diseases. It proposes amendments to an existing directive that deals with measures to control infectious salmon anaemia. The amendments have been initiated by the UK Government and are designed to provide more flexibility than the current arrangements. Specifically, the proposals would remove the need for immediate withdrawal of fish from affected farms—that means destruction of old fish on those farms—and allow the use of vaccines under plans that are to be drawn up by member states.

The Scottish Executive rural affairs department advises that the industry has been advocating greater flexibility on those rules for some time and that the proposal has industry support, although the industry remains understandably anxious about how the arrangement will work in practice. According to SERAD, the arrangements will be determined on a case-by-case basis. The European Committee has requested that we forward any views to it by 17 December.

Does anybody have views to express on this issue?

The proposals are very welcome and should go forward with our full support. They will assist the industry to deal with the crisis that it is facing and help to make it clear that this is a different problem from those that are faced by parts of the agriculture sector. That is very important.

I welcome what can only be described as belated proposals, given that many people in the industry are wondering why they have taken so long to appear and why, for example, the Norwegian approach was not adopted in the first place. However, better late than never. The committee should support the proposals.

If there are no further comments, I will put the question. Does the committee support the proposals?

Members indicated agreement.

Does the committee want to forward any further comments on the matter to the European Committee?

No.

I have a note from the clerk that says that the issue of ISA was originally put on the agenda by Richard Lochhead. The committee has requested a detailed written brief from SERAD. Production of that brief has been delayed, pending a ministerial announcement on infectious salmon anaemia, which will take place tomorrow at 12 noon. A full briefing paper is expected to be available for the first committee meeting of the new year.