Vol. 548 No. 4
22 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the locations of sites here where rendered bovine carcasses or meat and bone meal are stored; if his Department has investigated the danger of other feedstuffs being contaminated by proximity to, or wind-borne contamination from such stored material; the measures which are being taken to dispose of that material; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4899/02]
Meat and bone meal is stored in a number of locations mainly in the Leinster region. Such stores are subject to prior approval by my Department to establish their suitability for meat and bone meal storage. There is a set series of standards for approval of such stores, including the location of the store, its structure and operation. Factors such as the proximity of storage of other feedstuffs, the location of ruminant animals and the possibility of cross-contamination are taken into account by my officials in approving such stores. Approved stores are supervised and controlled by officials of my Department.
Meat and bone meal is being exported on an ongoing basis for incineration on the Continent. Consideration is being given by my Department to tenders for the disposal of further stocks of meat and bone meal under a recent tendering competition.
