Written question asked by Judy Mallaber (Labour) on Wednesday, 5 November 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 19 November 2003. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Wednesday, 19 November 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action is planned to ensure effective policing of the segregation of high and low risk waste at poultry slaughterhouses and its distribution from slaughterhouses; and what plans he has to provide extra resources to the Meat Hygiene Service for this purpose.

Answer: Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is planned to ensure effective policing of the segregation of high and low risk waste at poultry slaughterhouses and its distribution from slaughterhouses; and what plans he has to provide extra resources to the Meat Hygiene Service for this purpose. [137586] Miss Melanie Johnson: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has revised its instructions to the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) on the enforcement of animal by- products legislation, and the FSA is auditing the MHS's performance against those instructions. In addition, as part of the FSA's action plan to implement the recommendations of the Waste Food Task Force, the Agency is working with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the MHS to produce a new, joint, risk-based regime for enforcement of animal by-products legislation in licensed premises. This will make best use of existing enforcement expenditure. In addition to this, the FSA is currently considering the case for extra expenditure for animal by- products enforcement in licensed premises as part of its review of MHS functions.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 137586; 413 c1136W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Animal products Enforcement Hygiene Poultry Meat Safety Waste Slaughterhouses Meat Hygiene Service Poultry meat
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk