§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how much mammalian meat and bone meal from bovine sources is incorporated into pet food; and if he will make a statement; [40228]
(2) how much mammalian meat and bone meal is incorporated into pet food; and if he will make a statement. [40227]
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§ Mrs. BrowningStatistics for the total quantity of mammalian meat and bone meal from bovine sources incorporated into pet food are not available.
Because of our concerns that pet food containing MBM might present a possible risk of cross-contamination of livestock feed, new measures to prevent this were introduced on 1 August. The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Order 1996 now prohibits the production of this material on the same premises as livestock feed unless this takes place in a separate building and there is no contact with equipment or vehicles used in the production of livestock feed.
Where pet food containing MBM is stored or sold it must now be either physically separated form any feed for livestock or securely packaged with no leakage or spillage. Equipment used for handling or moving the material must not be used for livestock feed. Pet food containing MBM must not be transported with feed for livestock unless both types of material are securely packaged with no spillage or leakage.
The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Order 1996 also generally makes it an offence for MBM or material containing MBM to be present on farms or at feed mills. The only legitimate destination for MBM is now for pet food, for inclusion in domestic fertiliser or disposal to landfill (for material produced by the slaughter of animals under 30 months of age going for human consumption). The legislation requires that all movements and use of MBM have to be recorded and accompanied by appropriate documentation. This will ensure that all consignments of MBM, whether produced in this country or imported, are fully traceable.