BSE (Chickens) (Hansard, 19 February 1997)

§ Mrs. Browning

There is no scientific evidence to suggest that chickens are susceptible to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. In experimental attempts to establish disease, BSE has not been transmitted to poultry either by oral exposure or by direct inoculation into the brain. Challenged birds survived to five years post-inoculation. Further tests have been carried out on tissues from these chickens by inoculation into further chickens and into mice to see if any infectivity can be detected. These are now eight months post-inoculation without evidence of transmission. I am aware of the recent press reports suggesting that TSEs have been identified in chickens. My Department has been informed by the researcher who holds the material in question that no pathological examination of brain tissue has yet been carried out. My Department has informed him that if on examination a TSE is suspected, he is under a legal obligation to surrender the material to a veterinary inspector of the Ministry of Agriculture for further analyses.

The feeding of mammalian meat and bonemeal to all farm animals, which includes poultry, has been banned since 29 March 1996. This ban was put in place to prevent the accidental feeding of ruminants with feed intended for pigs and poultry, which prior to 29 March could legally have contained meat and bonemeal.