Vol. 550 No. 4
276 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if farmed fox here are slaughtered by electrocution and farmed mink by suffocation in carbon monoxide gas; if these procedures are done by a qualified veterinarian or under veterinary supervision; and if he will make a statement on the animal welfare aspects of these methods of slaughter. [9494/02]
Foxes are slaughtered by electrocution. Mink are slaughtered by inhalation of carbon monoxide gas. The procedures are not carried out by veterinarians or under veterinary supervision. Both procedures are allowed under Schedule 6 of the EC (Protection of Animals at Time of Slaughter) Regulations, 1995 (SI 114 of 1995) and under the Council of Europe recommendation concerning fur animals. Veterinary supervision is not a legal requirement.
277 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the disposal methods which are used here for the bodies of farmed mink and fox. [9495/02]
The carcases of farmed fox and mink are disposed of at registered rendering plants.
278 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of fox and mink pelts produced here in 2000, 2001 and 2002; and the number exported in 2000, 2001 and 2002. [9496/02]
My Department does not have figures on pelt production however, the number of farmed mink slaughtered in 2000 was 116,402 and in 2001 was 140,008. The number of farmed foxes slaughtered in 2000 and 2001 was in excess of 100 in both of these years. An accurate forecast of the number of slaughterings for both species for 2002 is not yet available.
My Department does not have statistics on the number of fox and mink pelts exported.
