§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he plans to introduce legislation prohibiting the administration of meat tenderising enzymes;
(2) what research has been commissioned by his Ministry into the use of tenderising enzymes administered by inter-jugular injection prior to slaughter.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonOn 20 June I announced that our decision not to accept the recommendation by the Farm Animal Welfare Council in its report on the slaughter of red meat animals that the administration of the tenderising enzyme papain to cattle before slaughter should be banned would stand.
Research into the effects of the technique on the live animal was carried out following publication of the council's report. I have placed a copy of the results of the research in the Library.