§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what provisions there will be for farmers to deliver their own casualty animals to the collection point under the new Fallen Stock Scheme. [138782]
§ Mr. BradshawThere will be no need for farmers to deliver their own casualty animals to collection points under the Scheme. The subscription fee paid by farmers which join the Scheme covers collection and disposal of fallen stock from farm premises. If farmers nevertheless wish to use their own vehicles to transport carcases to approved collection centres their vehicles will need to comply with the Animal By-products Regulations 2003 and they will need to establish with the approved collection centre that they are prepared to accept carcases which are so delivered.
§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to publish details regarding the collection of carcases under the Fallen Stock Scheme. [138780]
§ Mr. BradshawProgress is being made drawing up the detailed requirements for collection of carcases and the other conditions of the Scheme. These will be made widely available shortly for collection and disposal operators who wish to provide services to the Scheme.
§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether hunts will be able to register as(a) collectors and (b) receivers of fallen stock. [138781]
§ Mr. BradshawThe Animal By-products Regulations 2003 require hunt kennels that collect and treat fallen stock carcases to be approved by Defra as collection centres and premises which only receive treated carcases for feeding to hounds are required to be approved as final users. Appropriately authorised hunt kennels will be eligible to register as collectors and/or disposal agents under the National Fallen Stock Scheme if they wish to do so.