Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 245: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the regulations governing the spreading of offal, belly grass and slurry from meat factories; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that such material is being spread on farms during the months of November, December and January; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9022/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The legislative basis for the control and disposal of animal by-products not intended for human consumption is Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002, the Animal By-Products Regulation. Offal, belly grass and slurry are regarded as animal by-products under this Regulation.

Digestive tract content (belly grass) and manure (slurry) may be spread on land in accordance with Regulation (EC) 1774/2002 if the competent authority does not consider them to present a risk of spreading any serious transmissible disease. There is no provision for raw animal by-products (offal) from meat factories to be spread on land and the Animal By-Products Regulation provides that such material must be processed in establishments which are approved for that purpose.

Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 (the Nitrates Directive) as implemented by the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations, S.I. No. 378 of 2006, regulates the application of organic fertilizers and manure to land.

These Regulations have been explained to farmers in an "Explanatory Handbook for Good Agricultural Practice for Farmers" produced by my Department. Specific rules apply in relation to the 'prohibited spreading period', with some variation between different zones of the country. If the Deputy has any specific information concerning non-compliances I would ask him to forward the detail to my Department, which will take the necessary action.