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Question for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

UIN HL15629, tabled on 9 May 2019

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of potential secondary uses of the estimated 400,000 foxes killed each year in Britain, including as a source of biofuel.

Answered on

22 May 2019

In 2000, the Burns Report estimated that 400,000 foxes die each year in Britain on roads, by being shot or through natural causes.

It is the responsibility of those who wish to control foxes by culling to ensure that the carcases are disposed of in accordance with the law. We have made no assessment of potential secondary uses of fox carcases.

Animals killed on roads are typically sent for disposal by incineration, co-incineration or processing (rendering). The fat extracted from rendering is commonly sent to approved biodiesel plants for conversion into biodiesel.