§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
What advice they have given to local authorities with regard to the disposal of fallen stock following the burial ban coming into force on 1 May. [HL2696]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty):Trading Standards, who enforce the regulation, have received guidance notes and training on the new rules. In addition, information on the disposal of animal carcases is available on the Defra website, at http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/bv-prods/default.htm., and from local Defra animal h ealth offices.
In the meantime, Defra will enforce the regulations in a reasonable manner, with a light-touch approach to the legislation to allow farmers time to adjust to the new rules. We expect farmers to make every effort they can to comply with the regulation, but we will take a pragmatic approach particularly in winter and poor weather conditions in upland areas and we will give advice to enforcement agencies accordingly.