asked the Minister for Agriculture if a decision has been reached on the application for a licence to manufacture horse meat.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Manufacture of Horse Meat.
Mr. Moylan
The Government have decided to permit the export of horse-flesh for human consumption, subject to certain conditions which, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle. I will give for the information of the House. The conditions are as follows:—
(a) Exports will be limited to carcase meat in fresh, chilled or frozen form, offals, boneless cuts, and canned meat.
(b) The export of sausages or other open-pack meat products containing horse-flesh will not be permitted.
(c) The cans in which any canned horse-flesh is exported must be appropriately embossed.
(d) Slaughtering of horses will not be permitted at any premises engaged in the handling of meat or meat products of other types.
(e) My Department may prohibit the export of horse-flesh to particular destinations.
(f) An existing meat export premises wishing to enter the horse-flesh trade will be required to give up its rights to export any other meat products and also change its trading name.
(g) Any trading name used in connection with the export of horse-flesh must not resemble a name used in connection with the export of other meat and preferably should include the word "horse".
(h) Each horse slaughtering premises must comply with such conditions as regards structural suitability, plant, equipment, refrigeration facilities etc. as may from time to time be determined by my Department; each premises must be a distinct self-contained unit and no activities unconnected with the slaughter of horses, the preparation of horse-flesh for export or the utilisation of byproducts may be carried on therein.
(i) The preparation, packing and transport of horse-flesh intended for export must be carried out in accordance with such regulations as may be made by my Department from time to time; all such activities will be subject to strict supervision by veterinary and other officers of the Department and veterinary examination fees under the Fresh Meat Acts will be payable; canned horse-flesh will also be subject to inspection fees.
(j) Each horse-flesh canning premises must be a self-contained unit with slaughtering and all other facilities, including a properly equipped laboratory staffed by a duly qualified chemist; this has been the policy in the case of beef canning for many years and it is considered essential that the same position should apply to horse-flesh canning.
(k) The meat content in canned horse-flesh must consist solely of horse-flesh.
Subject to compliance with these conditions and any others I may introduce from time to time any firm may be licensed to engage in the trade.
The provisions of the Agricultural Produce (Fresh Meat) Acts will be applied to horse slaughtering premises and licensing control over the export of horse-flesh is provided under the Agricultural and Fishery Products (Regulation of Export) Act, 1947. It is not at present considered that any additional legislation will be necessary.
The Government will not prohibit the export of live horses and this trade will be allowed to continue as at present.
If it should transpire that this decision is inimical to the interests of the carcase meat industry of this country, as I believe it will, will the Minister review this whole question in the light of that event?
Mr. Moylan
Certainly.