NEW controls on the distribution of cattle feeds should include the listing of ingredients, according to a farmers' group. The president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, Mr Frank Allen, welcomed the controls announced yesterday but said "the days of secret feed ingredients must come to an end".
He was responding to detailed controls announced by the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Yates, which are designed to eliminate the incidence of BSE among the State's cattle herd of 7 million. There have been 148 cases so far, including 33 this year.
Meal and bone feed is already banned for ruminants such as cattle, deer, goats and sheep, but is allowed for pigs and poultry.
It will be an offence for farmers to give such feed to ruminant animals and manufacturers will be required to have a licence. Any manufacturer supplying meat and bone meal to someone who does not have a special licence will be, liable to prosecution.
Other detailed regulations included providing adequate storage and transportation facilities; to ensure these feeds do not contaminate other products. Mills producing feed for ruminants will, not be allowed to have meat and bone meal on their premises under any circumstances.