HL Deb 19 June 1996 vol 573 cc34-6WA
Lord Marlesford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the letter sent to Lord Marlesford on 4th June by the Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mrs. Browning) in which it is stated that the introduction in 1988 of the ruminant feed ban has not been totally effective in reducing the number of BSE cases that have occurred probably due to cross-contamination of ruminant feed with meat and bonemeal from other animal feeds, on which date they introduced regulations to require all feed manufacturers to keep production lines dedicated solely for the production of feedstuffs from which meat and bonemeal has, since 29th March 1996, been excluded.

Lord Lucas

The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (Amendment) Order 1996, which came into effect on 29th March, prohibits the incorporation of mammalian meat and bonemeal (MBM) into feed for farmed animals, including poultry, horses and farmed fish. The order also made it an offence, from 4th April, to use any MBM, or feed containing it, for feeding to farmed animals.

MBM may be incorporated into pet food, but its preparation cannot take place at premises where farmed animal feed is produced. On 10th June the Government went to public consultation on proposals which would make it illegal from 1st August for MBM or farmed animal feed containing MBM to be present at feed mills, feed merchants and on farms.

Lord Marlesford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

For which domestic animals it is still legal to incorporate in manufactured feed ruminant protein such as meat and bonemeal; on which date it became illegal to manufacture such feedstuffs on the same premises as feed for all farmed livestock; and whether they are satisfied that these regulations are now being fully complied with.

Lord Lucas

The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (Amendment) Order 1996, which came into effect on 29th March, prohibits the incorporation of mammalian meat and bonemeal (MBM) into feed for farmed animals, including poultry, horses and farmed fish. The order also made it an offence, from 4th April, to use any mammalian meat and bonemeal, or feed containing it, for feeding to fanned animals. Within the context of these measures, the use of this material for pet food is not prohibited, but as from 29th March pet food cannot be produced at the same premises as feed for farmed animals.

These measures are being reinforced by a programme of inspection and sampling on farms and at feed mills. This programme is due shortly to be widened in scope and intensity to increase the current rate of sampling. Based on the evidence of the inspection and sampling programmes, I am satisfied that the regulations are being properly complied with. All carcasses from the 30-month slaughter scheme are being rendered and the resulting processed material stored pending incineration.