Vol. 403 No. 5
59 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline the criteria governing the spreading of blood from meat factories on land; if he has satisfied himself with the classification of blood as a nutrient rather than waste; if he has also satisfied himself that the spreading of blood does not constitute the spread of animal disease such as BSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Restrictions apply to the spreading of blood on land where it would result in pollution of waters, or where it would constitute a statutory nuisance under the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878. I understand that in most instances the purpose of spreading blood on land is as a nutrient rather than as a method of waste disposal.
There is no evidence that the spreading of blood on land is in any way linked to BSE.
The question of disposal of waste from slaughter plants generally is being reviewed in my Department in the context of EC proposals in this regard.
60 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to (a) any problems associated with the disposal of animal waste in view of the fact that rendering plants are now charging for this service, and (b) any indiscriminate dumping of offal because of this new policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am aware that the rendering industry has had to commence charging for the removal of slaughtering waste because of difficulties in the market for meat and bone meal. I am not aware of indiscriminate dumping of offal but there have been reports of isolated incidents.
The dumping of offal and other waste is controlled by legislation operated by the Department of the Environment in order to avoid any risk to public and environmental health.
