Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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52. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding health and safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44735/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The EU Animal By-Products (ABP) Regulation 1069 of 2009 allows the possibility of feeding raw meat to dogs under a number of headings.  For instance, meat from slaughterhouses that was passed fit for human consumption but is unwanted for commercial reasons can be used to produce raw petfood, subject to certain conditions.

Raw pet food originating from retail shops, where the cutting and storage are performed solely for the purpose of supplying the consumer directly on the spot, is outside the scope of the Regulation.

In addition the derogation under Article 18(1)(f) allows specified categories 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. A Meat Feeders Licence issued by my Department is required to purchase this product from certain authorised centres.