§ Dr StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if those cattle aged over 30 months which are now ineligible for human consumption will be slaughtered in abattoirs which also kill livestock for human consumption; and if he will make a statement on the detailed arrangements for the implementation of the 30-month rule, describing the responsibilities of farmers, livestock markets, slaughterhouses, rendering plans and other parties. [27234]
§ Mrs. Browning[holding answer 29 April 1996]: Cattle aged over 30 months may be slaughtered in abattoirs which also kill livestock for human consumption. The rules governing the 30-month scheme require that no cattle destined for human consumption may be present when animals are being slaughtered under the scheme. In addition, if any scheme animals need to be held in lairage, they must be kept separate from animals destined for human consumption and products from scheme animals must be stored separately from meat or other products for human or animal consumption. In
574Wpractice, this means that abattoirs participating in the scheme must agree to designate whole days (at least one) to the slaughter of animals under the scheme.
The detailed arrangements for the scheme are still being finalised.