Vol. 556 No. 5
111 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if all animal carcases accruing from the beef destruction scheme have been disposed of; the manner and condition in which dis posal was effected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20994/02]
The bovine carcases acquired during the purchase for destruction scheme operated by my Department in 2001 have all been rendered to meat and bone meal, MBM. A quantity of approximately 35,500 tonnes of MBM was generated from carcases in this scheme. All hides have been processed at tanneries in Ireland and all tallow has been incinerated or used as fuel. Contracts have been concluded with two companies for the incineration of this MBM at approved facilities in Germany and the UK. To date, a quantity of approximately 6,000 tonnes of the total amount in store has been dispatched for incineration. In addition to the MBM from the PFD scheme, some 19,000 tonnes of MBM was produced from carcases under the special purchase scheme for bovine animals, which succeeded PFD. This is similarly being incinerated in Germany.
