Carcass edict fiasco feared (From Gazette & Herald)

Carcass edict fiasco feared

A LOCAL Euro MP is warning that a deadline is drawing near for action on a new EU edict on the disposal at animal carcasses.

On-farm burial will be banned in just six weeks time and Robert Goodwill, from Terrington, says: "This has the potential to be a re-run of the 'fridge mountain' fiasco when the Government signed up to EU recycling legislation without bothering to make sure the UK was equipped to deal with it when it came into force."

Disposal costs are estimated at up to £45 per cow and £5 per sheep. In other EU states, a government-funded collection scheme is in operation, but the British Government has so far refused to pay for such a scheme.

The Tory MEP added: "Farmers will be expected to foot the bill for the extra costs as well as lose valuable time dealing with the additional red tape involved.

"The farming industry brought this to the Government's attention over 18 months ago, but with less than a month to go, no plan has been drawn up."

Updated: 10:23 Wednesday, March 19, 2003