Written Answers. - Pigmeat Sector.
Pat Rabbitte
Question:
151
Mr. Rabbitte
asked the
Minister for Agriculture and Food
if he will list each company or premises in respect of which a licence has been issued to feed meat and bone meal to pigs; the number of pigs produced each year by those companies or premises; the procedures, if any, in place to monitor compliance with any conditions attached to these licences; if he has satisfied himself that feeding meat and bone meal to pigs is appropriate having regard to health considerations and in the interest of the Irish pig and bacon industry in view of the fact that the major export market in the United Kingdom requires the non-use of meat and bone meal; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12620/99]
There are at present 26 feedmills and home compounders licensed under the provisions of the Diseases of Animals (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) (No. 2) Order, 1996 (S.I. No. 278 of 1996), to manufacture pig rations into which mammalian meat and bone meal is incorporated. The purpose of this Order is to enforce the ban on the sale or supply for feeding to ruminant animals (namely, cattle, sheep, goats and deer) and on the feeding to such animals, of feedstuffs containing animal protein derived from ruminant animals. The controls are also in place to minimise the possibility of accidental cross-contamination of ruminant feedstuffs
It is not the practice to release the names and addresses of the parties to whom licences have been issued. The information sought in regard to the number of pigs produced each year by the parties involved or premises is not available to my Department.
All mammalian meat and bone meal, MBM, in this country is produced, stored and moved under the control of my Department. Sales or supply of MBM can be made only on foot of the production of a valid licence to purchase MBM issued to the purchaser by the Department. Production, movement and sales records are subject to routine inspection and audit, in particular for the purpose of manufacturing licence renewal eligibility.
Each user of MBM must in addition hold a second licence which subjects the use of the MBM to further controls including the keeping of records of the quantities and of the end use of all MBM purchased or supplied. These records are monitored by my Department on a regular basis.
In Ireland pig rations containing MBM are produced in two ways, by a commercial feedmill dedicated to the production of non ruminant feedstuffs; and by persons who manufacture feedingstuffs intended for feeding to their own animals, Home Compounders.
At present only one commercial feed mill is licensed to purchase and use MBM in the production of non ruminant animal feedingstuffs. This feed mill is dedicated to the production of non ruminant feedingstuffs. In practice MBM is only incorporated into pig ration in this feedmill.
All pig holdings in receipt of ration from this company are visited by my Department and must be approved prior to initial supply. Such farms are also subject to ongoing checking following approval. Approval to use feedstuffs may be refused/withdrawn where my Department is not satisfied that the conditions of the Diseases of Animals (BSE) No. 2 Order, 1996, are being/will be observed. All ruminants, e.g. cattle, sheep, goats and deer must be effectively excluded from any site where mammalian meat and bone or feedstuffs containing MBM are stored, fed or otherwise used. Each unit must be a discrete entity within its own permanent, secure, durable and robust boundary with a second barrier to the feed storage within the unit. Access to internal farm roadways, e.g. for slurry spreading purposes must be secured with a locked gate open only when in actual use or cattle grids. Main entrance(s) must have cattle grids or a gate locked outside operating hours.
The feedmills records of quantities of MBM purchases, incorporation rates and feed production incorporating MBM are checked on a regular basis by my Department. The feedmill must supply my Department on a regular basis with lists of the customers to whom rations containing MBM are supplied. The production of all rations in this feedmill and in all other feedmills licensed to sell compound feedingstuffs under EU legislation are monitored by Officials of my Department. The renewal of licences in respect of feedmills may be refused or existing licences may be withdrawn where my Department is not satisfied that the conditions of the Diseases of Animals (BSE) No. 2 Order, 1996, are being observed.
Licences to purchase and to incorporate MBM are issued on an annual basis to home compounders to manufacture pig rations containing such mammalian meat and bone meal. Such rations are then fed to the compounders own pigs on the named pig unit on the premises specified on the licences issued.
At present 25 home compounders are licensed to purchase and to incorporate MBM. Each applicant is assessed individually by my Department for suitability to hold licences under the provisions of the Diseases of Animals (BSE) (No. 2) Order, 1996 as set out above.
All home compounders are subject to regular inspection of the premises and the audit of the use and destination of MBM purchased. In addition, my Department has to be satisfied that the home compounder is strictly observing the provisions of the Diseases of Animals (BSE) No. 2 Order, 1996. Licences are refused/withdrawn where the Department is not satisfied that the conditions of the Diseases of Animals (BSE) No. 2 Order, 1996, are being/will be observed.
The production of meat and bone meal for feeding to non-ruminant animals is undertaken in accordance with existing scientific recommendations. Specified risk material is excluded from this process and the remaining material is rendered in accordance with EU parameters in approved plants which are under Departmental supervision.
Pigs which have been fed meat and bone meal and product therefrom can be traded on the EU single market provided they meet animal health conditions laid down in European legislation. The ban in the UK on the feeding of meat and bone meal to any species was introduced in response to the high incidence of BSE in that country and remains in place as the processing parameters shown to inactivate transmissable sponigform encephalopathies are not being applied in rendering plants in the UK.
