Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
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450. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding recent policy changes pertaining to meat-feeding licences for greyhound owners with respect to what now constitutes a breeding establishment for the purposes of the meat-feeding licence; if the obligation to hold a meat-feeding licence has now been broadened in any way to include more greyhound-owners compared with previous rules and conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33153/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The current proposed measures in relation to the feeding of animal by-products (ABP) to dogs are intended to improve the implementation of the relevant provisions of the EU ABP Regulations (EC) No. 1069/2009, to reduce potential risk to public and animal health and to protect the human food chain. This policy has no impact on the definition of a breeding establishment nor on the obligation to hold a Meat Feeder Licence (MFL) as such a licence is required where a dog owner uses raw ABP under regulatory derogation as a source of feed, irrespective of the type of dog involved.

The EU ABP Regulation allows the possibility of feeding raw ABP to dogs under a number of headings. In particular the derogation under Article 18(1)(f) allows specified categories (Category 2 and Category 3) of ABP to be fed to “dogs from recognised kennels and packs of hounds”; and the derogation under Article 18(1)(g) allows the same for dogs in shelters. Raw ABP is potentially a valuable source of feed for dogs in kennels, shelters and for packs of hounds. However, it can also represent a potential risk to both public and animal health, particularly the Category 2 material which is derived from fallen animals. In light of the foregoing, it is proposed to introduce measures to facilitate an extension of the supply chain for the lower risk Category 3 material and over time to confine the availability of the higher risk Category 2 material. It is proposed that the restriction of supply of Category 2 material will be introduced on a gradual basis, as current MFLs expire over a three year period. The proposal will be the subject of a consultation process before being finalised.