Chamber and committees

All agricultural pesticides are tightly regulated under European legislation to protect people and the environment. The risk assessment process, set out in the legislation, looks in detail at the risks to honey bees. The regulatory process is constantly updated so that it advances with scientific knowledge.

The Code of Practice for Using Plant Protection Products in Scotland is an important source of practical advice for the safe use of pesticides for farmers and all other professional users of pesticides.

Under a Scottish Government funded budget, staff at Scotland’s Rural College have provided extensive advice to farmers on the safe use of neonicotinoids, including notifying beekeepers prior to their use, as well as being strongly advised to follow label recommendations.

FSA Authenticity Survey:

On the 19 February 2013, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) published information about its robust UK wide authenticity survey where 28 local authorities took samples of beef products from all parts of the food chain in the first two phases. Two local authorities in Scotland (City of Edinburgh and Stirling Councils) participated in phases 1 and 2. A further 24 local authorities will take samples for phase 3 and Highland Council and Dundee City Council are participating in this phase.

Phase 1: As at 11 March 2013, 224 samples (16 in Scotland) of raw comminuted (minced) beef have been checked for horse and pig DNA. The results show that 212 of the 224 samples taken in phase 1 are negative for horse DNA at or above the 1% threshold. One Scottish sample tested positive.

Seven samples are awaiting further verification and the FSA will publish details as soon as further information is received.

Phase 2: As of 11 March 2013, 140 (10 in Scotland) samples of beef-based ready meals have been checked for horse and pig DNA. Of the 140 samples taken, and the 52 results received, all are negative for horse DNA. 0 Scottish samples tested positive.

Phase 3: As part of an EU sampling programme 150 products will be tested in Phase 3. 12 samples will be taken in Scotland.

Industry testing:

The FSA also ordered food businesses to conduct authenticity tests on all processed beef products and provide the results to the FSA. Of the 5430 tests carried out by the industry to 11 March 2013 5386, over 99% did not contain horse DNA at or above the 1% threshold. The industry will continue to report the results of their ongoing testing and the FSA will provide quarterly updates via its website.

The Scottish Government:

On the 23 January 2013, Scottish Ministers asked the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to work with local authorities to carry out focused food standards audits of approved processed meat manufacturers. Scotland was the first part of the UK to initiate this work, which is in addition to the actions set out in the FSA’s plan and the European Commission’s testing programme. All the focused audits are now complete and no issues relating to horse DNA have been reported (as at 11 March 2013).

Throughout the horsemeat incident I have met regularly with stakeholders, including retailers, and have been in regular contact with ministers in other parts of the UK.

At the National Farmers Union Annual General Meeting 19 February 2013 I announced additional funding of £1 million to Quality Meat Scotland to strengthen the Scotch label, including a new licensing scheme to add weight to the rigorous requirements already in place to guarantee the authenticity of “Scotch Beef”, “Scotch Lamb” and “Specially Selected Pork”. This will provide the highest possible assurance that consumer food purchases contain premium quality branded beef and lamb.

This ties in well with our plans, announced last week, for an expert group to take forward the Scottish food industry’s work on traceability and provenance and this group will work on any further steps that need to be taken.

The results from the first Scotland-wide honey bee health survey are currently being prepared and will be available during May 2013.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the former Meat Hygiene Service have not carried out any specific sampling or inspections of meat products for horse DNA in each year since 2007. Prior to the recent horsemeat incident local authorities had not done so either.

Local authority authenticity checks of meat products formed part of their food standards inspections during the period 2007-2012. However, there was no reason to suspect that undeclared horsemeat had entered the food chain, therefore, no specific checks were routinely undertaken to identify the presence of horse DNA.

On the 23 January Scottish Ministers asked the FSA to work with Local Authorities to carry out focused food standards inspections of approved processed meat manufacturers. Scotland was the first part of the UK to initiate this work, which is in addition to the actions set out in the FSA’s plan and the European Commission’s testing programme. All the focused inspections are now complete and no issues relating to horse DNA have been reported (as at 20 March).

Also in response to the recent horsemeat issue, the Food Standards Agency published an action plan which included a UK Authenticity Surveillance Programme. Under this programme significant authenticity sampling for horse DNA has been undertaken by local authorities in Scotland since 15 January 2013.

Phase 1 of the authenticity sampling was reported 8 March. The results showed that 217 of the 224 samples taken across UK in Phase 1 were negative for horse DNA at or above the 1% threshold. Seven samples are awaiting further verification and the FSA will publish details as soon as further information is received.

In Scotland, 15 out of 16 samples taken in Phase 1 were negative and the only positive test related to a product that had already been withdrawn.

Results for Phase 2 will be published in due course and analysis of Phase 3 samples is still on-going.

Ad hoc authenticity tests

In addition, informal ad hoc authenticity tests for horse DNA have been carried out by local authorities and the results of this testing will be published in due course.

The Scottish Government is involved both directly and indirectly in a number of areas which are examining the reasons for the decline in honey bee numbers. This includes:

The launch in 2010 of the 10-year honey bee health strategy which aims to develop education, training, knowledge transfer and communications as well as promote surveillance, diagnosis, biosecurity and research and development.

Contributing half a million pounds to the insect pollinators initiative where nine projects have been funded to look into the causes and consequences of insect pollinator decline.

The completion of the first Scotland-wide honey bee health survey where inspections have taken place and samples collected from most parts of the country. A report is being prepared that will provide a snapshot of the nation’s bee health and will be used to inform future decisions relating to bee health and treatment of diseases, pests and emerging threats.

Sentinel Apiaries being set up to monitor high risk areas (such as ports and airports) and provide early warning of evidence of new exotic pests and diseases.

We are aware of the research recently reported from Dundee University on honey bee colony losses. Our colleagues at Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture have been working closely with Dundee University in this research. The Scottish Government contributed to funding for the Insect Pollinator Initiative of which this research forms one of the programmes. Bee colony deaths are caused by many factors and we are addressing some of these through the Honey Bee Health Strategy. As with any livestock, husbandry is a vital component of successful management and the overall health of bees is a major factor in sustaining vibrant colonies of honey bees. The Honey Bee Health Strategy is delivering outcomes by providing resources for education of beekeepers and making available good quality training facilities that will improve beekeepers knowledge and application of good husbandry practices.

We are aware of the losses quoted and in particular those from Fife. We understand that a significant bearing on some of the cases referred to in the research findings were related to specific apiary problems rather than to geographic location.

The Scottish Government has not been made aware of any previous instances of horsemeat being traded as beef in Scotland since 2007.

Imported meat consignments from third countries may only enter the European Union through designated EU Border Inspection Posts (BIPs). There are currently no BIPS in Scotland approved for meat consignments, therefore, meat consignments imported from third countries directly to the UK must enter through BIPs in England or Northern Ireland.

Relevant information will be held by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK Border Agency, or the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland as appropriate.

Imported meat consignments from third countries may only enter the European Union through designated EU Border Inspection Posts (BIPs). There are currently no BIPS in Scotland approved for meat consignments, therefore, meat consignments imported from third counties directly to the UK must enter through BIPs in England or Northern Ireland.

Relevant information will be held by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK Border Agency, or the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland as appropriate.