§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many ostriches have been slaughtered for consumption in each of the last 12 months; what quantity is exported abroad; and if he will make a statement. [13623]
§ Mrs. Browning[holding answer 31 January 1997]: The slaughter of ostriches for human consumption must be carried out in a slaughterhouse licensed under the poultry meat hygiene regulations or in exempt on-farm premises which comply with general food hygiene legislation.
Slaughterhouses are licensed by the respective Agriculture Department. To date the Ministry has not granted any slaughterhouse in England a licence to handle ostriches. Small numbers will have been killed in exempt on-farm premises during the last 12 months, but no figures are available. Meat produced in exempt premises is not eligible for export.