§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether enzootic abortion in ewes is a notifiable disease; what criteria is applied to the notification of diseases tested by the Veterinary Investigation Service; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythEnzootic abortion in ewes is not a notifiable disease either in the United Kingdom or the European Community. The main criteria applied to the categorisation of a disease as notifiable are that national action is needed to control or eradicate it and that its uncontrolled spread among farm animals could be severely detrimental in economic, trade or public health terms.