§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has had discussions with other European Economic Community member states about the export of meat and bone meal from the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonNo.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what information he has on European regulations concerning the incorporation of meat and bone meal in ruminant feedstuffs;
(2) what information he has on regulations governing the incorporation of meat and bone meal in animal feedstuffs in each individual European Community member state.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonI have no detailed information on legislation which applies in other member states but the incorporation of meat and bone meal into animal feedingstuffs is permitted in all member states. In the United Kingdom statutory controls prohibit the feeding of ruminants with ruminant protein and all meat and bone meal which is added to feedingstuffs is required to be salmonella free.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what European quality standards apply to the production of meat and bone meal.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThere are at present no European Community rules applying to the production of meat and bone meal.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has received representations from any other country concerning the quality of meat and bone meal exported from the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonFrance, West Germany and Israel have requested additional certification to accompany meat and bone meal exported from the United Kingdom. For France, fresh arrangements have been agreed which are being used by exporters. Certification intended to meet Germany's need is currently being devised. Specific requirements made by Israel are being examined to establish whether suitable measures can be offered their authorities.
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§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has issued any advice to countries which import meat and bone meal rendered in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonNo.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the quantities of sheep carcases used by the United Kingdom rendering industry; and what proportion of those quantities are rendered into meat and bone meal.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonAn estimated 15.3 per cent. of material used by the rendering industry comes from sheep. Most of this is slaughterhouse waste, so only a small part would be carcases. The proportion of carcases rendered into meat and bone meal is not known.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the United Kingdom feedstuffs industry first started using meat and bone meal in dairy rations.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThe date when such material was first used is not known but meat and bone meal have been included in feedstuffs for at least 40 years.