HL Deb 29 April 1996 vol 571 c126WA
Viscount Exmouth

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will give an assurance that cattle due to be slaughtered in order to control the spread of BSE (amounting to some 250,000 carcases a year), will not be dumped at sea unless positive scientific evidence can be given that the virus will not enter the aquatic food chain.

Lord Lucas

In his statement of 16th April the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced that the waste material, offals and carcase meat resulting from the over 30 months bovine cull scheme will be treated primarily by rendering with the resultant material to be disposed of by the best practicable environmental option. Dumping at sea of BSE-infected carcases or any other bovine material is not an option under consideration.