Bovine Offals (Hansard, 22 November 1995)

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg

In September, the State Veterinary Service reported unannounced visits to 193 slaughterhouses and found failings in the handling of specified bovine offals in 92 to 48 per cent.—of them. In October the SVS reported visits to 153 slaughterhouses and found failings in 52 to 34 per cent. Many of the failings found were of a comparatively mild nature, for example reflecting teething troubles with the new stain. There were, however, some more serious problems, for example with the poor separation and storage of SBO material. This risks such material becoming mixed with other waste products which can then enter the animal feed chain. In the most serious cases we found small pieces of spinal cord, ranging in size from 1 cm to one third of the spinal cord, left attached to the carcases after dressing. So far, we have found 17 such instances, including one found during preliminary visits in the summer and five found up to 10 November and one on 20 November in the latest round of visits. Although in each instance the spinal cord was removed before the carcases left the premises, these were potentially serious failings. It is essential that we eliminate any prospect of SBO material entering the human food chain.

I view this most seriously and have therefore taken a number of steps to ensure that slaughterhouses fully comply with the requirements of the Specified Bovine Offal Order 1995. First, I have discussed the situation with the chief executive of the Meat Hygiene Service and he will ensure that his staff enforce the requirements of the order most rigorously. Secondly, where it has sufficient evidence, the Meat Hygiene Service will prosecute any slaughterhouse operator failing to meet his obligations under the SBO order. A number of prosecutions are already under consideration. Thirdly, I have asked the SVS to double the frequency of its unannounced surveillance visits to cattle slaughterhouses and head boning plants. Finally, I met representatives of slaughterhouse operators on 9 November to impress on them the need for full compliance with these controls. They assured me of their commitment to seeing the requirements fully met, and I welcomed their constructive response.

The SVS also visits knackeries and hunt kennels to monitor their compliance with the SBO controls. In September, it made unannounced visits to 212 such premises and found failings in the handling of SBOs in 137 of them—65 per cent. In October, the SVS visited 235 hunt kennels and knackeries and found failings in 70 to 29 per cent. Again, many of the failings found were of a comparatively mild nature. Hunt kennels and knackeries do not handle meat for human consumption; nevertheless, failings in the handling of SBOs at such premises could result in such material entering the animal feed chain. This is of concern. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary has, therefore, met representatives of hunt kennels and knackeries to impress on them too the need to comply 192W fully with the controls on SBOs. She welcomed the constructive response from the respective representative organisations.