---

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Answer

Dr. Strang: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 6 November, Official Report, column 580, if he will list methods of disposal that are (a) permitted and (b) currently in operation for (i) condensate and (ii) wash water from the rendering of cattle slaughtered under the 30-month scheme. [8799] Mr. Douglas Hogg: [holding answer 12 December 1996]: Most wash water and condensate from rendering plants is discharged to sewer. Such discharges are regulated by sewerage undertakers, who are empowered by the Water Industry Act 1991 to impose a wide range of conditions on the discharge consent issued to an individual plant. A small number of rendering plants discharge wash water and condensate, after treatment, to controlled waters or to land. Discharges of this kind are subject to regulation by the Environment Agency, under the Water Resources Act 1991 or the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The methods of disposal specified in consents and licences will vary according to the circumstances and full weight is always given in determining such consents and licences to the need to protect public health and the environment. Dischargers who fail to comply with relevant discharge consents or licence conditions are liable to prosecution and other regulatory action. All rendering plants involved in the scheme are approved under the Animal By-Products Order 1992, as amended, which implements EU rendering standards, and the Specified Bovine Material (No. 3) Order 1996.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

8799; 287 c435-7W

Session

1996-97

Subjects

Cattle Diseases Disease control Waste disposal BSE