Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the legal regulations with regard to the disposal of out of date food products; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11056/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Out of date food products of animal origin such as meat, meat products and eggs are classified as animal by-products (ABP) when they are no longer intended for human consumption. The control of the disposal of out-of-date food products of animal origin is important as they can pose a danger to public and animal health. The main Regulation in this area is Regulation (EC) No. 1774 of 2002, which is given legal effect by the European Communities (Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies and Animal By-Products) Regulations, S.I. No. 612 of 2006. This Regulation sets out animal and public health rules for the collection, transport, storage, processing and use or disposal of ABP. Under the Regulation out-of-date food products of animal origin may be disposed of by a number of methods including rendering, composting, transformation in a biogas plant or a technical plant, use as raw material in a petfood plant or landfill when it is considered that the material concerned can be safely disposed of in this manner.