asked the Minister for Agriculture whether any meat in tins or otherwise is imported into this country; and, if so, if he will give particulars thereof and the steps taken to ensure that it is not a possible cause of human or animal infection.

Imports of meat and products containing meat are allowed only from countries where the disease position and the controls on the preparation of meat products are such that they are considered safe sources of supply.

The countries are indicated in the First Schedule to the Importation of Meat and Animal Products Order, 1963, copies of which are available in the Dáil Library. The imports concerned are admitted only subject to satisfactory evidence in respect of each consignment that the containers and contents are effectively sterilised and that any danger of contamination has been eliminated.

The approximate quantities of meat and products containing meat imported in 1963 were as follows:

Could the Minister tell us offhand whether the Argentine is one of the countries from which meat may be imported?

I have a list of the countries here: Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Channel Islands, Federal Republic of Germany, France, Great Britain, Iceland, Isle of Man, Italy, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States of America.

Are these the permitted countries or the actual countries?

The permitted countries.