asked the Minister for Health if he intends to respond to the calls for urgent reform of the regulations governing the slaughter of meat for human consumption made by the directors of community care and medical officers of health; if he has satisfied himself that human health is being sufficiently protected by the current procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Slaughter of Meat.
76.
I am aware of the concern of the directors of community care and medical officers of health about the conditions under which meat is slaughtered for human consumption and I share their anxiety regarding the effectiveness of current procedures towards the protection of human health.
One of the aims of the proposed new Bill on slaughterhouses which is under consideration by my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, is to try to achieve a level of operational hygiene and meat inspection in domestic slaughterhouses on a par with those now obtaining in the export plants.
I am confident that these proposals will bring about a satisfactory situation and will allay fears and anxieties in relation to meat presented for sale for human consumption.