HC Deb 01 May 2003 vol 404 cc458-60W
Mr. Luff

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice her Department has made available to farms in Worcestershire on dealing with fallen stock. [109101]

Mr. Morley

The Department will be writing to all livestock farmers in England about the new rules on disposal of fallen stock before Easter. In addition there is information on the Defra website and advice may be obtained from the Worcester Animal Health Office.

Andrew George

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the European Commission on the subject of the regulation banning on farm burial of fallen stock from 1 May in respect of(a) the challenges posed to farmers who have long distances to the nearest rendering plant and (b) the need for sufficient time for the Government to consult the industry on how it proposes to address the consequences of the ban. [108758]

Mr. Morley

The consequences of the ban on burial of livestock have been animal by-products regulation was proposed.

The Government has been discussing the possibility of establishing a national scheme for the collection of fallen stock with representatives of the farming industry since April 2002, but progress was hindered by the industry's initial reluctance to accept anything less than 100 per cent. Government funding. The industry were forewarned of the proposed ban even before these discussions and have had considerable time to prepare for the impending legislation.

Andrew George

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what opportunities her Department has to secure derogations to the on farm burial ban of fallen stock equivalent to those secured by the Scottish Executive. [108759]

Mr. Morley

Member States may derogate from the ban on the burial of animal carcases, for fallen stock in respect of remote areas, and in certain circumstances during disease outbreaks.

Andrew George

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice her Department has given to cooperative groups of neighbouring farmers assessing the prospect of purchasing jointly a biodigestor or incinerator to deal with fallen stock in respect of(a) siting and (b) the transport of dead stock from one member's farm to the farm on which the facility is sited. [108774]

Mr. Morley

Guidance on on-farm incinerators, including shared incinerators, was included in a letter sent to all livestock farmers in England on 17 April. A copy of this letter is on the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/by-prods/default.htm. Further guidance will be made available shortly.

Biodigesters are not a permitted means of disposing of fallen stock under the EU Animal By-Products Regulation.

Mr. Peter Duncan

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will make a statement on the geographical spread of rendering facilities in the UK and its effect on collection of fallen stock; [108964]

(2) if she will make a statement on the implementation of the EU fallen stock regulations in Scotland; [108956]

(3) what additional resources will be required by trading standards departments in respect of new fallen stock regulations. [108963]

Mr. Morley

Rendering or incineration facilities are available throughout the UK to deal with disposal of fallen stock. The collection and disposal industry have stated that there is sufficient capacity to deal with the expected increase in the volume of material when the EU Animal By-Products Regulation comes into effect from 1 May.

Responsibility for implementing the EU Animal By-Products Regulation in Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Executive.

Allocation of resources for enforcement of the new rules on disposal of fallen stock is a matter for local authorities.