Written question asked by Llew Smith (Labour) on Monday, 26 October 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 2 November 1998. It was answered by Lord Rooker (Labour) on Monday, 2 November 1998 on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Question: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what safety assessment his Department has conducted on the spreading of condensate from abattoirs onto agricultural land.

Answer: Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what safety assessment his Department has conducted on the spreading of condensate from abattoirs on to agricultural land. [57102] Mr. Rooker: Condensate is produced from the steam driven off during the rendering of carcases or offal. Most renderers dispose of their condensate to sewers but a small number spread theirs on agricultural land. The spreading of waste on agricultural land is subject to control by the Environment Agency under the waste management provisions of Part II of the Environment Protection Act 1990. In response to concerns about the practice, the Environment Agency commissioned a risk assessment report by independent technical consultants about the safety of condensate spread from a plant. The independent Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee are reviewing the practice, based on the results of the risk assessment and associated work, and we await their advice.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 318 c431-2W; 57102
Session: 1997-98
Subjects: Agriculture Cattle Land Diseases Environment protection Health hazards Disease control Fertilisers Waste disposal Slaughterhouses BSE Condensates