Vol. 396 No. 3
125 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are allegations that some farmers have discovered a way of artificially creating symptoms of bovine TB in the cattle; and if he will make a statement on this alleged situation.
The practice referred to by the Deputy is an offence under Article 7 of the Bovine Tuberculosis (Attestation of the State and General Provisions) Order, 1989 and any information relating to such practices which he has in his possession should be made available to my Department.
I am aware of a specific case where an attempt may have been made to fraudulently produce TB reactors.
126 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food having regard to the present controversy over the alleged relationship of the badger to bovine TB, if his attention has been drawn to the practice of spreading bovine blood and offal on land as a fertiliser; if he will investigate this alleged practice by meat processing factories which are alleged to use this method of disposing of their waste blood and offal; the implications which this practice would have for the spread of bovine TB among cattle and possibly among badgers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The spreading of blood and rumen contents from meat factories on land is restricted by law where such action gives rise to the discharge of polluting matter into water or constitutes a statutory nuisance under the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878, as amended. The practice would not constitute a risk to animal health where such spreading is confined to arable land. However, the spreading of this material on pasture is not advisable and is actively discouraged by my Department.
I am informed by the director of ERAD that the question of waste disposal from both farm and meat factory is under review by the TB investigation unit. In addition, ERAD has commissioned a joint research programme between the TB investigation unit and Teagasc to develop safer methods of disposal of this type of material.
Waste offal has a commercial value and is normally heat treated and processed.
