§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many proposals for composting initiatives have been turned down by the Environment Agency on the grounds of the Animal By-Products Order which prohibits the composting of kitchen and catering waste. [80511]
§ Mr. MorleyDefra and the local authorities are the competent authorities with respect to the Animal By-Products Order and it is not the responsibility of the Environment Agency to enforce the requirements of the Order. The agency set out its position with respect to the Order in a position statement which was published in October 2001.
Where the agency receives applications which may be affected by the Animal By-Products Order, it makes applicants aware of the Order and notifies the local authority concerned.