Vol. 529 No. 2
103 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will give an assurance that all meat and bone meal will continue to be banned after 30 June 2001; and the long-term plans that are in place for the disposal of meat and bone meal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2743/01]
Under the provisions of Council Decision 2000/766/EC of 4 December 2000, the use of meat and bone meal as a feed for farm animals used in the production of food is banned on a temporary basis until 1 July 2001. During this six month period the Commission may review and adapt the ban in accordance with the BSE situation in each member state taking into account the results of Commission inspections and the results of BSE monitoring. Ireland is awaiting Commission proposals in this area. Meat and bone meal stocks are currently held in secure stores in Ireland under the control of my Department.
Options for the safe disposal of meat and bone meal are currently being considered by my Department in conjunction with the Department of the Environment and Local Government and the Environmental Protection Agency. In the absence of a domestic means of disposing of the waste products from the livestock sector, the only option is to store the product pending export for destruction elsewhere.
104 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the penalties that are in place for meat and bone meal manufacturers and millers who continue to feed ruminant meat and bone meal after the 1990 ban; the number of prosecutions that have taken place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2744/01]
Prior to the new regulations introduced on 1 January 2001 following Council Decision 200/766/EC of 4 December 2000 which banned the use of meat and bone meal in the manufacture of all animal feedingstuffs intended for feeding to farmed animals, the use of meat and bone meal in the manufacture of such animal feedingstuffs was governed by the provisions of the Diseases of Animals (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) Order 1990 and the Diseases of Animals (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) (No. 2) Order, 1996. These orders prohibited the feeding of mam malian meat and bone meal to ruminant animals such as cattle, sheep, goats and deer.
The provisions of the Diseases of Animals (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) (No. 2) Order, 1996, set out the licensing system applicable to the manufacture, purchase and use of mammalian meat and bone meal for any purpose. Breaches of the above orders are offences under the Diseases of Animals Act, 1966 and are punishable on summary conviction by a maximum fine of £1,500 or to six months imprisonment or both.
Prosecutions in respect of breaches of the provisions of the 1966 order concerning the use of meat and bone meal have been taken against two companies and one individual. Convictions were secured in each case. In addition to the above, successful prosecutions have been taken against an individual and a company in respect of the use of poultry offal contrary to the provisions of the 1996 order as amended by the Diseases of Animals (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) (Amendment) Order, 1997.
