§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many broiler chickens slaughtered in the United Kingdom were rejected in the last six months of 1995 and to date in 1996 as being unfit for human consumption; what were the public health considerations leading to such rejections; and if he will make a statement; [26102]
(2) how many chickens were dead on arrival at United Kingdom poultry slaughterhouses in the first six months of 1995 and to date in 1996; and if he will make a statement; [26103]
(3) when the national Meat Hygiene Service commissioned a welfare audit in 1995; what were the results of that audit; and if he will make a statement. [26104]
§ Mrs. Browning[holding answer 23 April 1996]: I have asked the chief executive of the Meat Hygiene Service to reply to the hon. Member direct.
Letter from Johnston McNeill to Mr. Elliot Morley, dated 24 April 1996:
As Chief Executive of the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) your questions concerning the number of broiler chickens rejected at slaughter, the number of chickens dead on arrival at slaughterhouses and the results of the MHS's welfare audit have been passed for me for reply [26102, 26103 & 26104].The Meat Hygiene Service was launched on 1 April 1995 as an Executive Agency of MAFF. It took over from some 300 local authorities responsibility for enforcement of the hygiene and welfare at slaughter legislation in licensed meat premises in England, Scotland and Wales.According to MHS data, 5,855,611 broiler chickens slaughtered in Great Britain in the last six months of 1995 and to date in 1996 were rejected as being unfit of human consumption. Considering a total throughput of broiler chickens of around 483 million for the same period, this represents 1.2% thereof. Poultry meat may not be sold for human consumption unless it meets the conditions laid down in the Poultry Meat, Farmed Game Bird Meat and Rabbit Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995. These Regulations require, notably, fresh poultry meat to have been obtained from a licensed premise, been subject to pre-slaughter and post-mortem health inspections and show no sign of disease.The number of chickens (broilers and hens) which were dead on arrival at slaughterhouses in Great Britain in the last six months of 1995 and to date in 1996 is 1,227,284.The report of the animal welfare audit carried out by the MHS has now been finalised. A copy has been placed in the Library today.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in what circumstances ensiled poultry litter can be fed to(a) poultry and (b) other farm animals; and if he will make a statement. [26105]
§ Mrs. Browning[holding answer 23 April 1996]: It is illegal under regulation 15(11) of the Feedingstuffs Regulations 1995 to sell or use as a compound feed any material which contains faeces or urine, irrespective of any form of treatment or admixture.