HC Deb 31 January 1995 vol 253 cc647-8W
Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has available to identify the routes of disposal for specified offals from cattle prohibited from entering human food in November 1989.

Mrs. Browning

The Bovine Offal (Prohibition) Regulations 1989, which came into effect on 13 November 1989, prohibited the use of specified bovine offals, as defined, in food for sale for human consumption.

The SBO controls, which are under review at present, require, subject to certain exceptions, that SBO must be sterilised or stained at the slaughterhouse. Movement permits are required for the removal of SBO from the slaughterhouse for disposal. The movement of protein material derived from SBO—after rendering—is prohibited except under licence for incineration or burial.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the decision of 30 June 1994 to remove intestines and thymuses from calves under six months has been reported to EU member states.

Mrs. Browning

The European Commission and individual member states were informed of the decision on the 30 June 1994, and official notification to the commission under the technical standards directive—83/189/EEC—was made on 26 July 1994.