Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

My Department's contribution to the fallen animals scheme ceased with effect from Tuesday, 14 April 2009 as a result of budgetary constraints and in reflection of the greatly reduced incidence of BSE in this country. However, I provided continued financial support for the collection of certain dead animals, notably bovines over 48 months of age, for sampling as required under the ongoing national BSE surveillance programme.

The disposal of dead farm animals is subject to EU regulations, notably EC Regulation No. 1774 of 2002. These regulations require that animals which die on-farm must generally be disposed of through approved knackeries and rendering plants. With the ending of the fallen animals scheme the cost of collection and rendering for animals not covered by the new scheme is now a matter for negotiation between the individual collectors or rendering plants and their customers.

Within the boundaries of legal requirements, my Department is making every effort to facilitate measures enabling reduction of costs in the rendering and collection system, such as allowing cross-Border trade, permitting direct delivery by farmers to authorised plants, considering removal of some costs currently built into the rendering process and encouraging indigenous use of meat and bone meal for energy. Farmers may continue to use the existing collection network or, alternatively, may transport dead animals by prior arrangement to approved knackeries provided the carcasses are transported in leak-proof covered containers or vehicles. Burial of fallen animals is only permissible under licence in remote areas, that is, islands and listed mountain or bogland areas. Farmers who wish to bury animals on-farm should apply to their local district veterinary offices for burial licences. It is also a legal requirement on all keepers of bovine animals to notify my Department of movements of all live or dead bovines off their holdings.

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