Vol. 468 No. 4
832 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will give a breakdown of the body parts used and the purposes for which the part(s) are used of horses and donkeys slaughtered in the Republic of Ireland; where the various products end up; where the unused parts are disposed of; and the way in which the unused parts are disposed of. [15056/96]
836 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry his views on whether it is acceptable commercial practice to divert horse and donkey meat into the human food chain. [15060/96]
I propose to take Question Nos. 832 and 836 together.
Meat from solipeds is a fresh meat suitable for human consumption in accordance with EU Directive 64/433 on health conditions for the production and marketing of fresh meat.
Horses slaughtered in the Republic of Ireland are exported to France in carcase from for human consumption. Livers are also recovered and are exported for human consumption mainly to France and occasionally to Belgium. Some horsemeat is occasionally provided to the Zoo for animal feeding. Heads and all other unused parts of the carcase are disposed of by rendering in accordance with the European Communities (Disposal, Processing and Placing on the Market of Animal By-Products) Regulations, 1994. Donkeys are not slaughtered.
