§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the United States Department of Agriculture and with the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs about the alkaline hydrolysis at elevated temperature technology for the disposal of infected cattle carcases; and what conclusions he has drawn about its use in England. [143318]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 20 December 2000]: No Minister has had any such discussions. However, officials are discussing, with the company which produces it, the possibility of permitting the use of this technology in England.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what scientific reasons regulations governing animal waste by-products do not include the hydrolosis process as an approved method. [143319]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 20 December 2000]: The EC Animal Waste Directive, 90/667/EEC, which is implemented in Great Britain by the Animal By-Products Order 1999, sets out the permitted disposal routes for animal by-products. When the Directive was adopted in 1990, the hydrolysis process had not been developed as a disposal route for animal by-products and therefore could not be included. The Directive is under review and the 58W European Commission is seeking the advice of the EU Scientific Steering committee on whether hydrolysis should be a permitted disposal route in future.