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Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Answer

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what account he took of the need to minimise the possibility of spreading foot and mouth disease in deciding to authorise two sites in west Sussex for disposal of animals culled as part of the exercise to control that disease. [158342] Mr. Meacher: [holding answer 23 April 2001]: The Environment Agency has identified a number of licensed landfill sites which are suitable for the disposal of animal carcases. The carcases consigned to these sites are those which MAFF authorise for disposal under Article 5(2) of the Animal By-Products Order 1999. The objective of the authorities responsible for the disposal arrangements is to ensure that carcases are transported for disposal (a) within infected areas or (b) within non-infected areas--but not from one area to another unless necessitated by factors such as the location of abattoirs or landfills. I understand that landfill sites at Small Dole and Warnham in west Sussex have been identified by the Environment Agency as suitable for carcase disposal but, in the event of their being used, only carcases from the local area will be consigned to them. Any such disposal of carcases will be carried out on the basis of a Best Practice Document (the Protocol) agreed between the Environment Agency, MAFF and the Environmental Services Association (ESA). A copy has been placed in the Library and is available on the Agency's website: http:// www.environment-agency.gov.uk/envinfo/fmd/protocol.pdf.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

367 c197W; 158342

Session

2000-01

Subjects

Disease control Foot and mouth disease West Sussex

Link

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