§ Mr. Peter DuncanTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will derogate from the EC directive on carcase disposal in respect of farms in Dumfries and Galloway. [62411]
§ Mr. MorleyNo. The EU animal by-products regulation will permit member states to derogate from the regulation to permit the burial or burning of fallen stock in defined remote areas. Although this is a matter for Scottish Ministers in Scotland, all agriculture Ministers in the UK consider the Highlands and Islands of Scotland to be the only areas which can be considered to be remote within the terms of the regulation.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to change the rules for farmers disposing of fallen stock. [61500]
§ Mr. MorleyNew EU rules (the Animal By-Products Regulation) will prohibit the routine burning or burial of fallen stock, except in defined remote areas, and will specify standards for incinerators which are used to dispose of fallen stock.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the EC Animal By-Products Regulation 2000/0259 to be implemented. [61494]
§ Mr. MorleyWe expect the EU Animal By-Products Regulation to be adopted in September 2002 and to apply in member states seven to eight months later.