HC Deb 19 June 1991 vol 193 c205W
Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how his Ministry differentiates between horses used for recreation and those kept for the horsemeat trade.

Mr. Maclean

No such differentiation is made. In this country any horse can be slaughtered for the horsemeat trade providing it is slaughtered in accordance with the requirements of public health legislation.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what facilities exist in the United Kingdom for the slaughter of equines for human consumption; and if he has any proposals to improve them.

Mr. Maclean

There are currently four EC-approved slaughterhouses, and six slaughterhouses operating under domestic legislation, which are approved for the slaughter of equines in the United Kingdom. It is for the operators of the domestic plants to take commercial decisions on whether to upgrade to meet the single market rules which will apply after 1992.

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