§ Mr. Johnasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what risks are known to his Department as to animal welfare and the food chain in the light of the acknowledged existence on farms 382W of pollution; and what are the statutory regulations relating thereto.
§ Mrs. FennerAny risks to human health are assessed by the Department of Health and Social Security and local public health authorities.
As regards animal welfare, problems of this kind tend to be essentially local and are either those like fluoride emissions on which my Department's husbandry specialists have long been advising the local farmers concerned; or those, for example, where waste products have been dumped on or near agricultural land and which are brought to the notice of the central Departments concerned with agriculture or the environment by local or river authorities. All likely risks to the well being of livestock and to food are subject to a wide spectrum of controls, which include the monitoring of animal health by the State veterinary services under the Diseases of Animals Act 1950; and the hygiene and inspection provisions of the Milk and Dairies and the Slaughterhouse Regulations made under the Food and Drugs Act 1955 and the statutory requirements relating to standards of food sold to consumers, contained therein.