Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 June 2018
431. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the regulatory system in place for the haulage, storage and disposal of poultry litter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26181/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra435. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are penalties or criminal sanction for the misuse of poultry litter leading to an outbreak of botulism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26187/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra437. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the licensing arrangements required for transportation, storage and end usage of poultry litter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26200/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra438. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the regulations on the disposal of poultry litter; the penalties in place for failure to comply with disposal regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26206/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra439. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the regulatory system in place for the haulage, storage and disposal of poultry litter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26214/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra444. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the regulations on the disposal of poultry litter; the penalties in place for failure to comply with disposal regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26598/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 431, 435, 437 to 439, inclusive, and 444 together.
The collection, transport, handling, treatment, transformation, processing, storage, placing on the market, distribution, and use and disposal of all animal products (ABP) including poultry litter is governed by the EU animal By-product Regulation (EC) No. 1069 of 2009 and Regulation (EU) No. 142 of 2011 which are given legal effect by The European Communities (Animal By-Product) Regulations 2014 (SI No. 187/2014).
Where a person is in breach of the EU ABP Regulations, the above mentioned Statutory Instrument provides for the Minister to take enforcement action including the issuing of a compliance notice requiring a particular action and also the use of criminal sanctions where appropriate.
Poultry litter is categorised as a category 2 ABP and the options for its disposal are set out in Article 13 of Regulation 1069/2009. Poultry litter containing residual poultry carcases must be disposed of in an incineration plant approved by this Department or the EPA or in a rendering plant also approved by the Department. However, as poultry litter that does not contain residual poultry carcases is considered to be an organic fertilizer/soil improver and is a valuable source of nutrients for farmers, it can be disposed of by spreading on land subject to strict conditions. The other main disposal routes for this material is in composting and biogas plants or as a fuel for combustion.
Poultry litter must be transported by a haulier registered with the Department of Agriculture Food and Marine in accordance with Regulation No. (EC) 1069 of 2009 and must be accompanied by a commercial document that provides details of the place of origin of the material and place of destination of the material. The material must be transported in covered, leak-proof containers or vehicles which are maintained in a clean condition with signage stating "Category 2 Material - Manure"
Poultry manure must be spread without delay and, where in the event that the material is being held for a short time prior to land-spreading, it must be stacked on a concrete base away from rivers, streams and other water courses and any run-off must be collected.
The Department has issued Good Practice Guidelines for poultry farmers, for poultry litter hauliers and for the end-users of poultry litter to ensure each stakeholder is aware of their legal obligations for the transport, use and disposal of the material.
The codes good practice for poultry farmers, poultry litter hauliers and end-users of poultry litter can be found on the DAFM website at
www.agriculture.gov.ie/animalhealthwelfare/diseasecontrol/botulism/.
