HC Deb 16 April 1996 vol 275 c468W
Dr. Strang

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date the Government announced that the splitting of bovine heads in slaughterhouses was to be prohibited; and when that prohibition came into force. [23203]

Mrs. Browning

[holding answer 28 March 1996]: Guidance was issued to local authorities on 14 June 1990 that bovine head meat must be recovered from the intact skull before the brain is removed. This guidance was subsequently enacted in the Bovine Offal (Prohibition) (Amendment) Regulation 1992, which came into force on 12 March 1992, prohibiting the removal of any meat for human consumption from the head of a bovine animal after the skull has been opened or the brain has been removed from that head. The Specified Bovine Offals Order 1995, which came into force on 15 August 1995, prohibited the removal of the brain from the head of a bovine animal.

Mr. Key

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all plants in the United Kingdom licensed by the Government to debone cattle heads; and if he will make a statement. [24214]

Mrs. Browning

[holding answer 2 April 1996]: Cattle heads, expect for the tongue, are specified bovine material and must be disposed of intact.

There is no statutory provision for the Government to approve or licence plants to debone cattle.