Vol. 559 No. 2
100 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his proposals to cease the storage of BSE infected carcases here; the terms of the agreement he has reached with the rendering industry in this regard; if it is proposed to incinerate such material here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25781/02]
The only EU-approved means of disposal of BSE infected carcases are burial or incineration. My Department discontinued the practice of burial of BSE carcases in late 2000 and in the absence of any suitable incineration facility within the State, it was necessary to make interim storage arrangements, pending a solution to the ultimate disposal of this material.
In so far as the rendering industry is concerned, I understand that the current position is that the integrated pollution control, IPC, licences granted by the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, to those plants currently approved for rendering specified risk materials do not permit them to render BSE positive material. In the event that the EPA agrees to a modification of the IPC licences of any of these plants, permitting them to render BSE positive material, my Department will take full cognisance of this in determining a strategy for the ultimate disposal of the material currently held in cold storage. As for incineration, the Deputy is no doubt aware that no suitable facilities are available within the State for the disposal of BSE positive carcases.
In the continued absence of appropriate alternatives, it will continue to be necessary that BSE infected carcases be frozen and stored in a secure, dedicated cold store, owned by my Department. In this regard I am satisfied that appropriate precautions have been taken in relation to the operation of this cold store and that it is complying with current national and EU animal health, public health, planning and environmental legislation in relation to this matter.
