The Fertilisers (Mammalian Meat and Bone Meal) (Conditions of Manufacture) Regulations 1998

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations give effect in part to Commission Decision 96/449/EC on the approval of alternative heat treatment systems for processing animal waste with a view to the inactivation of spongiform encephalopathy agents (OJ No. L184, 24.7.96, p.43).

They provide that no person may manufacture mammalian meat and bone meal for use as or in fertilisers unless the mammalian meat and bone meal is subjected to certain minimum process conditions (which reflect the requirements of Decision 96/449) (regulation 3).

The Regulations—

(a) make provision for the appointment by the appropriate Minister or the local authority of authorised officers for the purposes of the Regulations (regulation 9);

(b) provide powers of inspection for such officers (regulation 4) and prohibit the obstruction of and other activities in relation to such officers acting in execution of these Regulations (regulation 5);

(c) provide offences and penalties (regulations 6 to 8); and

(d) provide that the Regulations shall be enforced by the local authority, subject to a power of the appropriate Minister to direct that in relation to a particular case or class of cases that enforcement be undertaken by him and not by the local authority (regulation 10).

A Regulatory Appraisal for these Regulations has been prepared and placed in the library of each House of Parliament. Copies can be obtained from the Food Contaminants Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Ergon House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR.