A NEW ruling that unsold meat and fish would have to go for rendering or incineration shows how far removed from reality Defra has become, said Leominster's MP, Bill Wiggin.

In an attack on the Government department, he said that in the future unsold products would be classified as animal by-product waste, rather than food.

"This is yet another example of the ridiculous and unnecessary Government bureaucracy which on this occasion will not only prejudice farmers but also shopkeepers, butchers and fishmongers," said Mr Wiggin.

"On failing to sell meat and fish, they will now have to incinerate them in a timely and extremely costly manner."

The cost to a small local shop of disposing of just one pack of sausages each week would be a staggering £832 a year, he claimed. Mr Wiggin said he failed to understand the rationale of those who had come up with the ludicrous idea. "Why does a food product become animal by-product waste simply because it is past its sell-by date?"

But a spokesman for Defra said the regulations were designed to prevent disease. They were wide ranging and included the new laws on fallen livestock. Rules affecting retailers would not be decided until 2005.

During a meeting of the Government's environment, food and rural affairs select committee, Mr Wiggin, a member of the committee, handed Elliott Morley, the food and fisheries minister, a packet of sausages and asked if they could be classed as food.

He demanded that Mr Morley sort out what he described as a fiasco.