§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
What disposal methods would be used in any future mass cull, whether of wild animals or farm livestock, in the light of both the fallen stock regulations and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' rejection of mass funeral pyres. [HL2062]
§ Lord WhittyThe disposal methods that would be employed in the event of a mass cull of animals for230WA disease control purposes, such as in an outbreak of foot and mouth disease or other exotic disease, are detailed in chapter 4 of the Defra Foot and Mouth Disease Contingency Plan, the latest version of which will be laid before Parliament on 31 March. The agreed disposal hierarchy is incineration, rendering, licensed commercial landfill, on-farm burial and pyre burning. The methods set out in the contingency plan comply with the requirements of the EC Animal By-Products Regulation.
Although on-farm burning and burial of carcases (and off-farm disposal in a licensed landfill site) are banned under the Animal By-Products Regulation, the regulation provides that these disposal options may be used where necessary in the event of an outbreak of an exotic disease such as foot and mouth disease or in remote areas.
In the event that a decision is taken to cull farm livestock or wild animals to control an endemic disease, slaughter and disposal will be planned in advance and where appropriate the carcases will be disposed of by rendering or incineration.