HC Deb 21 March 1997 vol 292 cc957-8W
Mr. Meacher

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what regulations cover the land burial of(a) BSE-infected carcases and (b) BSE-infected rendered meat and bonemeal, or material suspected to the BSE-infected; what inspections measures are in place to ensure compliance with the regulations; and if he will make a statement. [20770]

Mrs. Browning

[holding answer 18 March 1997]: The Animal By-Products Order 1992 (SI 1992/3303), which implements the EC animal waste directive 90/667 in Great Britain, requires animal waster to be rendered, incinerated or buried. It has been the Ministry's practice to use incineration whenever feasible for the disposal of cattle displaying clinical signs suggestive of BSE.

The landfilling of controlled waste is subject to the waste management licensing provisions of part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994. The Environment Agency is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the licensing system. Amongst other matters, licences issued by the Environment Agency specify the types and quantities of waste which may be disposed of in each site. Landfill site operators are also subject to the duty of care provisions in Section 34 of the 1990 Act and the Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations 1991.

The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee has considered the current and proposed methods of dealing with waste material from the slaughter of cattle and concluded that these are safe. A news release reporting its conclusions was issued by MAFF on 7 June 1996 and a copy is available in the Library of the House, of the relevant regulations in the period 1985 to date.

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