HC Deb 11 February 1997 vol 290 c141W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many ostriches have been slaughtered for consumption in each of the last 12 months; what quantity is exported abroad; and if he will make a statement. [13623]

Mrs. Browning

[holding answer 31 January 1997]: The slaughter of ostriches for human consumption must be carried out in a slaughterhouse licensed under the poultry meat hygiene regulations or in exempt on-farm premises which comply with general food hygiene legislation.

Slaughterhouses are licensed by the respective Agriculture Department. To date the Ministry has not granted any slaughterhouse in England a licence to handle ostriches. Small numbers will have been killed in exempt on-farm premises during the last 12 months, but no figures are available. Meat produced in exempt premises is not eligible for export.