Vol. 519 No. 4
21 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if ruminant intestines are used in the preparation of any foods in Ireland; the amount, if any, in this regard; and the precautions exercised in relation to the safety and suitability of intestines. [13857/00]
Certain ruminant intestines are used in this country for the production of outer casings used in the preparation of sausages and puddings. My Department has licensed 12 premises under the abattoirs (control of designated bovine offal) regulations, 1996, to produce casings for human consumption from designated bovine offal, otherwise known as DBO. Under the terms of the licence, DBO used in the preparation of casings may be obtained only from premises approved or licensed by me under the existing meat hygiene legislation. This guarantees that the animals from which the DBO is harvested have passed ante and post mortem inspections by veterinary officers of my Department. Furthermore, the licence requires that there shall be suitable and adequate facilities available in the premises to store and handle the DBO. Complete separation between DBO and any other meat or offal must be ensured.
To ensure full traceability of the product, the licence stipulates to whom the casings may be consigned or sold. The licensee is obliged to maintain, for a period of at least two years, records of the source of DBO used in the preparation of casings and the subsequent use or disposal of such DBO or casings.
