Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Dec 2000

Vol. 527 No. 5

Written Answers. - Bovine Diseases.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

134 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if, in view of the importance of the UK market for Irish pork and bacon products, he will indicate the steps that are taken to ensure that meat from pigs fed on meat and bonemeal are not exported to the UK, having regard to the UK ban on such products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29156/00]

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

136 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if his attention has been drawn to a newspaper report (details supplied) suggesting that a pig producer (details supplied) in County Cork had been supplying pigs fed on meat and bonemeal to a local factory contrary to the pork quality assurance scheme operated by Bord Bia; the action he will take on foot of the report, having regard to the need to maintain consumer confidence in pork products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29158/00]

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

137 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will withdraw a licence to a person (details supplied) in County Cork who had been supplying pigs fed on meat and bonemeal to a local factory contrary to the pork quality assurance scheme operated by Bord Bia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29159/00]

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

138 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a licence was first issued under the Disease of Animals (BSE) (No. 2) Order, 1996, to a premises (details supplied) in County Cork to allow the feeding of meat and bonemeal to pigs; when the licence was last renewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29160/00]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 134, 136, 137 and 138 together.

I am aware of the newspaper report referred to alleging that a pig producer had been supplying pigs fed on meat and bone meal to a local factory under the Bord Bia quality assurance scheme.

The position is that the use of meat and bone in feed for non-ruminants has been permitted under national legislation in accordance with licences issued by my Department.

I understand from Bord Bia, which carried out a detailed on site review of the plant in question, that this review revealed no evidence that pigs from this farm had been processed under its quality assurance scheme.

Regarding the export of Irish pork and bacon products from pigs fed on meat and bone meal, MBM, to the UK, such trade has been permitted under national and EU law. However, the feeding of meat and bone meal to all farm animals will shortly be banned within the EU and I will be taking appropriate measures to implement this ban.

I should point out that the ban on feeding MBM to all farm animals is based primarily on the fact that other member states have failed to impose the controls necessary to avoid MBM being fed to ruminants rather than on a perceived risk to non-ruminants, including pigs, from feeding MBM. Ireland has such controls in place and these were considerably strengthened in 1996. Ireland's controls in this area have been independently assessed at various times over the past number of years and have been found to be rigorously enforced.

The decision in principle to issue licences was taken in June 1997. These licences were first issued on 19 September 1997 and were last renewed in this case on 25 November 1999. They expired on 24 November 2000.