§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases there have been since 1979 of contaminated or unfit meat from knackers' yards(a) entering and (b) being prevented from entering food for human consumption; and how many prosecutions have resulted. [12093]
§ Mrs. BrowningDuring the period 1979 to date, there has been legislation in force, currently the Animal By-Products (Identification) Regulations 1995, which require that, subject to exemptions—mainly for poultry meat—meat is sterilised or stained before it can be removed from a knacker's yard. This ensures that unfit meat from knackers' yards is readily identifiable and should not therefore enter the food chain. The regulations are enforced by local authorities and the information requested is not held centrally.