Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 296: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has conducted an investigation into the level of competition in the disposal of fallen animals; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulty being experienced by farmers in updating their animal identification and movement scheme profile arising from the disposal of fallen animals; his views on the wide differential in prices being quoted for the disposal of fallen animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43784/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The disposal of fallen animals is subject to EU Regulations, notably Regulation (EC) No 1774 of 2002. These regulations require that animals which die on-farm must generally be disposed of through approved knackeries and rendering plants.

My Department's contribution to the Fallen Animals Scheme ceased with effect from 14th April 2009. This was as a result of budgetary constraints and also reflects the greatly reduced incidence of BSE in this country. However I have continued to provide financial support for the collection of certain fallen animals, in particular bovines over 48 months of age, for sampling, as required under the ongoing national BSE surveillance programme.

My Department is also continuing, within the boundaries of legal requirements, to make every effort to facilitate measures to maximise flexibility and enable reduction of costs in the rendering/collection system. This includes 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 (MBM) for energy purposes.

Approval conditions have recently been drawn up to facilitate the collection of fallen animals direct from farms by approved rendering plants, including arrangements to provide for TSE testing of these animals where required.

Discussions are also ongoing between my Department and farmer and hunt representatives, to consider the feasibility of extending the network of plants authorised to act as knackeries.

These measures are designed to help sustain competition in this sector and encourage fair pricing. However with the ending of the Fallen Animals Scheme the cost of collection and rendering for animals not covered by the new scheme became a matter ultimately for negotiation between the individual collectors/rendering plants and their customers.

With regard to the animal identification issue, farmers are obliged to notify the Department of the deaths of bovine animals within 7 days of death. The normal method of doing this is through the approved animal collector, who forwards the necessary details to the firm which collates the data on an outsourced basis for the Department. If any farmers are experiencing difficulties in this regard they should contact their local District Veterinary Office for assistance.