HC Deb 06 April 1998 vol 310 cc83-4W
Dr. Gibson

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the impact on the competitiveness of UK pig farming in Europe of the UK's ban on bone meal feed for pig rearing. [37576]

Mr. Morley

An assessment specific to the ban on the use of meat and bone meal (MBM) in pig feed has not been carried out. However, the Department has commissioned ADAS to produce a Report on the competitiveness of the UK pig industry in relation to some of its main competitors in the EU. This will be available shortly. Reactions to the MBM ban in the retail sector and by consumers indicate that producing pigmeat products from non-MBM fed stock presents the industry with a major marketing opportunity.