72 Ms M. McGennis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the current situation regarding the practice of using cats and dogs in bone meal fed to pigs and poultry; if he has satisfied himself that this practice has now ceased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26127/00]

The position is that in 1999, my Department banned all rendering plants producing animal feed grade material from using dog and cat carcases for this form of rendering. Any customers wishing to dispose of such carcases in this manner must now re-direct them to Monery By-Products in County Cavan. Product from Monery is prohibited from entering the animal feed chain and its production is currently being exported for disposal.