§ Mr. CollinsTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what restrictions upon the import and export of horns and horn products have been imposed as a result of the BSE crisis; what additional restrictions are proposed; and if he will make a statement. [7941]
§ Mr. RookerUnder the Heads of Sheep and Goats Order, 1996, the heads (excluding the tongue) of sheep and goats of any age other than those born, reared and slaughtered in Australia and New Zealand must be90W disposed of as specified waste material. This would include the horns if still attached to the head. However, horns themselves are not considered to be a risk provided they are removed without breaking into the cranial cavity in order to ensure that there is no risk of contamination with brain material.
The Specified Bovine Material Order 1997, applies to cattle which have died or been slaughtered in the United Kingdom. It requires the removal and disposal of specified tissues (defined as the whole head excluding the tongue, spleen and tonsils of all animals over six months of age and intestines and thymus of animals of all ages).
The export ban introduced by the EU in March 1996 applies to live bovine animals, bovine semen and embryos, mammalian meat and bone meal, products obtained from bovine animals that are liable to enter the animal or human food chains and materials destined for use in cosmetics or medical or pharmaceutical products. The ban, therefore, includes bovine horns for those purposes but not for other purposes, such as ornamental sticks or shepherd's crooks, which can be manufactured in the UK and traded.