Ceist:
24 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the status of the ban on meat-and-bone-meal; the plans he has to make this ban indefinite; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18794/01]
Written Answers. - Meat and Bonemeal Ban.
At the recent Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting it was put to member states that the ban on the use of meat and bone meal as an animal feedingstuff should remain in place. The proposal stated that the ban would be reviewed in the light of the European Commission's decisions with regard to the BSE status of countries and the implementation of the Animal By-products Regulation for the production, monitoring and control of all such by-products. In the event there was no qualified majority in favour or against the proposal and it is matter for the Commission to adopt the proposal on its own authority. Ireland supported the Commission proposal and feels that the prolongation of the feed ban is justified at the present time. It should also be noted that no member state argued for the lifting of the ban.