§ Mrs. Helen JacksonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans there are for the future disposal of cattle slaughtered to comply with the EC instructions. [10341]
§ Mr. BaldryIt is not clear to which specific EC instructions the question refers. However, in the context of the Government's BSE eradication programme, all BSE suspect animals are slaughtered on farm and sent for direct incineration in incineration plants contracted to the Ministry. Cattle purchased under the over-30-months scheme are slaughtered in compliance with Commission regulation 716/96 which requires the carcases to be disposed of by incineration or rendering and destruction.
The Government announced on 16 December 1996 that the selective cull would go ahead and the disposal of any animal slaughtered under this scheme will be in compliance with regulation 1484/96, which also requires incineration or rendering and destruction.