Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 460: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to Parliamentary Question No. 1070 of 6 October 2009, the ownership of the eight plants that have been approved by his Department to render animal by-products; his views on whether the ownership of these plants and their obligation to accept animal by-products from all other cattle slaughtering plants gives them effective control over the number of cattle slaughtered at any time here; if his Department has assessed the impact that this control of slaughtering will have on the price of cattle paid to farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35676/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's role in relation to rendering plants is to ensure that they are approved and operate in compliance with Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002, which governs the use and disposal of animal by-products (ABP). The ABP Regulation is designed to protect human and animal health. It does not impose requirements in relation to the ownership structure of ABP plants and my Department does not keep records of the owners of these plants.

Details of the eight plants which have been approved in this country to render animal by-products in accordance with the terms of the ABP Regulation are set out below. All of these plants operate under the supervision of my Department. Four of the plants are approved as Category 1 plants and can deal with all types of ABP, including specified risk material. The other four are Category 3 plants dealing with lower risk material.

The ownership structure of rendering plants and any links between such plants and cattle slaughtering plants are commercial matters. The acceptance of ABP material by rendering plants from slaughter plants is also a matter for commercial negotiation between the plants concerned. Slaughter plants also have the option, subject to authorisation in accordance with ABP regulatory requirements, of sending material for disposal outside the State.

It is my policy to encourage alternative disposal options for ABP, including meat and bone meal (MBM) and tallow, which are the products of the rendering process, with a view to maximizing added value. I believe that this policy, together with the competition which exists in the marketplace, and the fact that there is adequate capacity in the Irish rendering industry, combine to ensure that the industry can cope well with any seasonal variations in slaughter numbers and that cattle prices are not adversely affected.