HC Deb 02 December 1988 vol 142 cc425-6W
Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure that salmonella enteritidis is absent from eggs that might be consumed by the public.

Mr. Ryder

[holding answer 1 December 1988]: We are taking this issue very seriously. I am holding meetings with the various sectors of the industry—the eggs, poultry and feedingstuffs industries and the retailers. All are aware of the need to act to reassure consumers—their customers. Steps are being taken as a result. A comprehensive code of practice has already been agreed under the poultry health scheme. The eggs industry, which has already issued new instructions for producers, is meeting today to discuss the adoption of a similar code of practice. A joint feeding stuffs working party met yesterday to consider how we might tighten up enforcement of the feedingstuffs orders, and the preparation of a tough code of practice. A further working party, comprising scientists from my Ministry, the Department of Health and the egg industry have been studying urgently the scientific background to these outbreaks and will make recommendations soon.

All this is in addition to the excellent work of the State Veterinary Service, investigating every outbreak of salmonella enteritidis.

Mr. Bermingham

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the implications for research into salmonella in poultry of the loss of three AFRC scientists at Bristol engaged in work related to food safety with regard to salmonella in poultry; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Ryder

[holding answer 29 November 1988]: My Department undertakes ongoing reviews of all commissioned research. Following an extensive review of MAFF commissioned research in microbiology involving consultations with the Department of Health, the Public Health Laboratory Service, the AFRC Institute for Food Research, the food research associations and representatives of the food industry it was decided that work on manipulation of the microbial flora of the gut of young chicks should cease from April 1989 since it was now at the stage where the work was ready for industry to develop. This will not constitute a reduction in Government support on microbiological research, such as on salmonella. The funding is to be diverted to other important microbiological work. The work had been supported by MAFF and the AFRC for more than 10 years. Considerable effort has been made by the Institute for Food Research to interest the industry in the techniques which have been developed. Unfortunately, practical difficulties associated with the technique have proved unattractive to both the veterinary pharmaceutical and poultry industries at present. If future developments should make the work commercially feasible, and industry decides to come forward with funding, the work can be picked up again.

My Department commissions more than £1 million of research each year into the microbiological safety of food and gives a high priority to salmonella control. The deployment of staff at the IFR Bristol is a matter for the AFRC.