§ Lord Stanley of Alderleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the Written Answer by the Lord Donoughue on 13 February (WA 253) appears to contradict his Written Answer on 12 January (WA 185); and, if they are contradictory, which is correct. [HL736]
§ Lord DonoughueThere is no contradiction. The later question related solely to the Beef Bones Regulations which do not control the use of bones as petfood. This is because bovine bones removed from any bone-in beef must be treated as if they were animal by-products referred to in Part II of Schedule I to the Animal By-Products Order 1992 and disposed of accordingly. That order permits stained or sterilised bones to be supplied by knackers' yards for petfood as I stated previously. However, following further legal consideration, I can now advise the noble Lord that, in addition, bones may be used to prepare petfood at the premises where they originated, for example the butcher's shop where the meat was deboned. Such bones do not need to be stained or sterilised but the butcher or other supplier must be satisfied that the bones are being obtained for pets and not human consumption.