Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the implications for her policies of the use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics by overseas poultry producers who supply the UK market.

In order to export meat to Great Britain, GB import conditions must be met. For food products, this includes a requirement for exporting countries to regulate the use of veterinary medicines.

Fluroquinolones are permitted for use in meat production, both domestically and in imported meat products. However, withdrawal periods prior to slaughter must be adhered to, as well as residue levels, the maximum limits of which are the same for both domestic and imported meat.