§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the costs to British abattoirs of complying with(a) the official feed and food control regulations and (b) the arrangements for blood storage and disposal included in the Animal By-Products Regulations. [89616]
§ Margaret BeckettThe Commission has not yet made proposals on charges to abattoirs for health inspections but we have made plain our preference for the existing structure and levels of meat hygiene charges. With respect to disposal of blood, officials are working with industry representatives to achieve satisfactory outcomes both in terms of regulatory requirements and the ability of industry to change existing practices at minimum cost and disruption.