§ Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthornasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many cases they are aware of where the Bovine Encephalopathy Order 1988 prohibiting the sale, supply or feeding to cattle of rations containing ruminant-derived protein has been breached, how many prosecutions have ensued and how many convictions have resulted.
Lord LucasA number of apparent breaches of the Bovine Encephalopathy Order 1988 have been investigated but so far no prosecutions have resulted. A record of the number of such alleged breaches is not held centrally, as this legislation is enforced by local authorities.
Since a test for the presence of mammalian protein became available in February of this year, two apparent breaches have come to light. Both of these are probably due to accidental cross-contamination at the feed mill, and investigations are currently proceeding.
The measures introduced on 29th March to ban the incorporation of any meat and bone meal into feed for any farmed animal, and the forthcoming ban on the holding of any meat and bone meal or feed containing it, on farms, at feed merchants and at feed mills from 1st August, should remove the risk of such cross-contamination recurring. The State Veterinary Service will however continue to visit feed mills on a regular basis and take samples for analysis.