Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 February 2013
156. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of horses killed at licensed slaughter houses in each of the last five years; the number of those passed fit each year to enter the human food chain; the number passed fit for processing into pet food; the number destroyed; the methods by which the carcases were destroyed; the supervision of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6969/13]
View answerThe number of horses slaughtered in plants approved by my Department under EU and national food safety regulation in each of the years since 2008 was as follows:
2008 – 2,002;
2009 – 3,220;
2010 – 7,296;
2011 – 12,575;
2012 – 11,402.
I understand from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland that the following numbers of horses were slaughtered in local authority approved slaughter plants:
2008 – Nil;
2009 – 1,027;
2010 – 2,494;
2011 – 4,985;
2012 – 12,960.
All animals that arrive at an approved slaughter plant are subject to both ante mortem and post mortem inspections, conducted by veterinarians. Animals that fail ante mortem inspection are not allowed to leave the plant. They are euthanized and their carcases sent for disposal. The carcases of animals that fail post mortem inspection are also sent for disposal. Disposal is normally by means of rendering at a Department approved rendering plant. My Department does not collate figures on horses that fail ante or post mortem inspection but I understand that the numbers are low.
The manufacture of pet food in Ireland is governed by EU regulations relating to animal by-products (ABPs), which provide that this product must be processed in a plant approved by the competent authority and to the parameters specified in the legislation. The regulations permit the manufacture of pet food from specified ABPs, including ABPs which are fit for human consumption but are not intended for human consumption for commercial or other reasons. I understand that none of the pet food manufacturers approved by my Department under the EU regulations uses horsemeat as an ingredient in the manufacture of pet food.
