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Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Answer

Mr. Breed: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what recent advice his Department has published regarding the safe disposal of packs of blood, fish and bonemeal which may contain the BSE prion; [139135] (2) what recent advice his Department has published regarding the use of fertilisers containing blood, fish and bonemeal extracts. [139136] Ms Quin: In January 1998, SEAC examined the practice of feeding fishmeal to farmed fish. They concluded that there was no reason to prohibit the practice. The Committee also considered the use and disposal of bovine blood and concluded there was no significant risk associated with disposal of bovine blood on agricultural land. Mammalian meat and bonemeal and blood meal derived from animals not slaughtered under the over-30-month-scheme (providing it is not from BSE suspects or SRM) can be legally incorporated into pet food production and non-agricultural fertiliser. Blood meal from such animals can also be included in animal feed. However, the majority of blood and bonemeal is incinerated or landfilled. SEAC reviewed the use of dried mammalian blood in animal feed on 29 September 2000. They agreed that there was no evidence to suggest the presence of BSE infectivity in cattle blood and concluded that there was no compelling need to change previous advice.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

357 c876W; 139135;139136

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Disease control Fertilisers Waste disposal BSE

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk