WRITTEN QUESTION E-1277/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(2 May 2001)

Subject: Animal slaughter and pollution

According to the news, in the United Kingdom the epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease has led to the slaughter of more than 500 000 animals. The slaughtered animals have been buried in mass graves or burnt on pyres. Apparently another 200 000 heads of cattle await the same fate.

Can the Commission state:

- what measures have been taken to prevent risks of environmental pollution (of the air and ground water);

- whether the people living in the areas concerned are being protected from the consequences of any such pollution;

- whether there are any guarantees for other European countries that products from potentially contaminated regions have been controlled, both for the risk of direct contamination (polluted water) and that of indirect contamination (products cultivated on polluted land or which have been irrigated with polluted water);

- whether it will inform Parliament in detail on the environmental situation after the slaughter of such an incredible number of cattle?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(19 July 2001)

As a part of controlling the foot-and-mouth epidemic a large number of animal carcasses have to be disposed of. Because there is no risk-free approach it is essential that the disposal of the animal carcasses is handled with proper regard to environmental protection and to public health and that the necessary measures are taken as part of the control strategy. The measures taken by the British Department of Health to prevent risks of environmental pollution are available on: http://www.doh.gov.uk/fmdguidance/fmdsummary.pdf (guidance on the building of pyres, guidance on the use of materials for pyres, guidance on ash disposal arising from pyres and mobile incinerators, ).

The issue of animal waste is addressed at Community level by several directives covering environmental and veterinary aspects. Specifically with regard to the disposal of animal carcasses, the Commission has put forward a proposal for a Regulation(1) on animal by-products not intended for human consumption designed to amend current legislation and to create a comprehensive legal framework. This draft Regulation lays down animal and public health rules for the processing and/or disposal of this waste.

To protect the people who live and work in the areas affected by foot-and-mouth disease the British Department of Health has developed a Public Health Guidance and has sent it to the people in these areas. This guidance is available on the News Co-ordination Centre web site: http://www.co-ordination.gov.uk/foot_leaflet.htm. In addition a risk assessment of the health effects of pyres has been made entitled Foot and Mouth: Effects on Health of Emissions from Pyres Used for Disposal of Animals which can be found on http://www.doh.gov.uk/fmdguidance/pyrereport.pdf

As soon as reliable and precise data are available, the Commission is prepared to inform the Parliament on its request on the environmental situation after the burning of animal carcasses and to see whether additional measures are necessary.

(1) OJ C 96 E, 27.3.2001.