Vol. 464 No. 2
16 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if his attention has been drawn to any stipulation by supermarket chains in the United Kingdom or other EU member states that pig meat or poultry from this country must have been fed on rations free of meat and bone meal; if he still advocates the feeding of meat and bone meal to pigs and poultry in such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7791/96]
I am aware of reports that certain supermarket chains have set down requirements about the constituents of feedingstuffs in the whitemeat sector. I am not aware of the precise details of such requirements or the extent to which it is required.
My position is that the issue of feeding meat and bonemeal should be examined in a proper context taking account of the scientific advice, the existing legal requirements both EU and national, the commercial and economic implications and of course the views of retailers and consumers. The EU has set out conditions for the processsing of meat and bone meal and the matter is likely to be further examined by its scientific committees.
In its report of 10 April to the Minister for Health, the Food Safety Advisory Board also concluded that the use of mammalian meat and bonemeal in the feed of non-ruminant animals should as a matter of urgency be examined by my Department. This examination is under way.
