230. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide written confirmation to poultry farmers in the North of Ireland who wish to expand their enterprise in order that they can export poultry manure from the north to the south. (details supplied). [49934/26]

The movement of poultry litter within the EU is regulated under Article 48 of EC Regulation 1069/2009. Article 48 (1) of 1069/2009 states the following:

Where an operator intends to dispatch Category 1 material, Category 2 material and meat-and-bone meal or animal fat derived from Category 1 and Category 2 materials to another Member State, it shall inform the competent authority of the Member State of origin and the competent authority of the Member State of destination.

The competent authority of the Member State of destination shall decide upon application by the operator, within a specified time period:

(a) to refuse receipt of the consignment;

(b) to accept the consignment unconditionally;

(c) to make receipt of the consignment subject to the following conditions:

(i) if the derived products have not undergone pressure sterilisation, it must undergo such treatment; or

(ii) the animal by-products or derived products must comply with any conditions for the dispatch of the consignment which are justified for the protection of public and animal health in order to ensure that animal by-products and derived products are handled in accordance with this Regulation.

Applications for such movements of poultry manure from Northern Ireland may be submitted to my Department, which will process applications received in line with the legislative requirements.