§ David MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what information the Government have received regarding the health implications of vaccinated meat entering the food chain. [2577]
§ Yvette CooperI apologise to the right hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer him to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002,Official Report, column 192W.
I assume the hon. Member is referring to foot and mouth disease vaccines.
The foot and mouth disease vaccines for use in any vaccination programme contain inactivated foot and mouth disease virus as their active ingredient. The FSA advise that there are no appreciable health implications of eating meat from animals vaccinated with the inactivated virus and there are no chemical safety concerns for human consumers associated with the use of the vaccines in food producing animals.