§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to take to assist farmers to deal with fallen stock; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SoamesThe Government are taking a number of measures to help alleviate the problems of disposal of fallen stock. They include
provision of free advice and literature on the various methods of disposing of fallen animals, including safe burial;theexemption of animal carcase incineration under 50kg per hour from regulations under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which makes the purchasing of small scale incinerators a more attractive investment;issuing shortly for public consultation a planning policy guidance note on pollution and waste management including incineration;funding research and development in the field of animal waste disposal, including a £0.5 million programme to determine which rendering processes destroy certain pathogens;helping the rendering industry to examine alternatives to landfilling meat and bonemeal derived from specified bovine offal; andidentifying investment in the animal by-products sector as a priority area for EC grant aid.The Department also intends to press the Community to move forward as rapidly as possible under the provisions of the EC Animal Waste Directive, to adopt animal health rules for knackers yards so as to ensure that they can continue their key role after 1995.