Specified Bovine Offals (Hansard, 23 November 1995)

Lord Lucas:

In September the State Veterinary Service (SVS) reported unannounced visits to 193 slaughterhouses and found failings in the handling of specified bovine offals (SBOs) in 92 (48 per cent.) of them. In October the SVS reported visits to 153 slaughterhouses and found failings in 52 (34 per cent.). Many of the failings found were of a comparatively mild nature, for example reflecting teething troubles with the new stain. There were, however, some more serious problems, for example with the poor separation and storage of SBO material. This risks such material becoming mixed with other waste products which can then enter the animal feed chain. In the most serious cases we found small pieces of spinal cord, ranging in size from 1 cm to one third of the spinal cord, left attached to carcases after dressing. So far, we have found 17 such instances (including one found during preliminary visits in the summer and five found up to 10 November and one on 20 November in the latest round of visits). Although in each instance the spinal cord was removed before the carcases left the premises, these were potentially serious failings. It is essential that we eliminate any prospect of SBO material entering the human food chain.

My right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food views this most seriously and has therefore taken a number of steps to ensure that slaughterhouses fully comply with the requirements of the Specified Bovine Offal Order 1995. First, he has discussed the situation with the Chief Executive of the Meat Hygiene Service and he will ensure that his staff enforce the requirements of the order most rigorously. Secondly, where it has sufficient evidence, the Meat Hygiene Service will prosecute any slaughterhouse operator failing to meet his obligations under the SBO order. A number of prosecutions are already under consideration. Thirdly, he has asked the SVS to double the frequency of its unannounced surveillance visits to cattle slaughterhouses and head boning plants. Finally, he met representatives of slaughterhouse operators on 9 November to impress on them the need for full compliance with these controls. They assured him of their commitment to seeing the requirements fully met, and he welcomed their constructive response.

The SVS also visits knackeries and hunt kennels to monitor their compliance with the SBO controls. In September they made unannounced visits to 212 such premises and found failings in the handling of SBOs in 137 of them (65 per cent.). In October the SVS visited 235 hunt kennels and knackeries and found failings in 70 (29 per cent.). Again, many of the failings found were of a comparatively mild nature. Hunt kennels and knackeries do not handle meat for human consumption, 17WA nevertheless, failings in the handling of SBOs at such premises could result in such material entering the animal feed chain. This is of concern. My honourable friend the Parliamentary Secretary (Mrs. Browning) has, therefore, met representatives of hunt kennels and knackeries to impress on them too the need to comply fully with the controls on SBOs. She welcomed the constructive response from the respective representative organisations.