Vol. 503 No. 4
112 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a company (details supplied) in County Cavan was designated for the disposal of specified risk material; if BSE infected animals are rendered there; the provisions, if any, for the disposal of diseased animals; the safety and health implications of the disposal of diseased animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10583/99]
Since 1997 the plant referred to has been designated to render specified risk material i.e. principally the skull and spinal cord of slaughtered cattle and sheep, from slaughter plants around the country. This material would not come from any animals which have shown symptoms of BSE.
In addition carcasses of animals from herds being depopulated as a result of having a BSE case diagnosed in the herd are rendered at the plant, as are carcasses of birth cohorts, the progeny of such cases, and of bovine animals originating in the United Kingdom. None of these animals would have shown any symptoms of BSE.
All EU and national requirements are strictly complied with at the plant concerned and it has been inspected and audited on a number of occasions by EU officials.
