HC Deb 14 October 1946 vol 427 c114W
76. Lieut.-Colonel Sharp

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the months of delay in the identification of a tubercular cow in a herd suspected of having, caused bovine tuberculosis are due to unavoidable technical reasons; and whether he will exercise his powers under the Food and Drugs (Adulteration) Act, 1938, and order immediate pasteurisation of the milk from that herd.

Mr. T. Williams

Where tubercle bacilli are found in a bulk sample of milk taken in a consuming area, the offending cow, if still in the herd, is usually detected very quickly, but in a small minority of cases there may be some unavoidable delay, due to the need for biological tests. The point raised in the latter part of the Question is, however, under consideration by the Departments concerned in connection with the revision of the Milk and Dairies Regulations.