HC Deb 24 February 1989 vol 147 cc847-8W
Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what date his action to ban the use of animal by-products in cattle food became operative; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what action his Department has taken to enforce his ban on the use of animal by-products in the manufacture of cattle feed;

(3) whether he will introduce regulations permanently banning the use of animal by-products in the manufacture of feed for cattle and other ruminants.

Mr. MacGregor

The use of ruminant-derived protein material in ruminant feedstuffs has been prohibited since 18 July last year. The ban will continue unless processing methods sufficient to destroy the agent which causes BSE are developed and widely available. Ministry officials are empowered to take and test samples of feedstuffs if they have reason to believe that the law is being broken, but there is no evidence to suggest that this is so.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has made any estimate of the incidence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy which goes unreported.

Mr. MacGregor

There is no evidence available to suggest to me that farmers are failing to report suspected cases of BSE; indeed, the number of cases being notified to the Ministry indicates a high level of co-operation from I he farming industry.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (I) if he will list those intiatives he has taken to date to research into the epidemiology of bovine spongiform encephalopathy;

(2) whether his Department possesses any information on the vertical transmission of bovine spongiform encephalopathy;

(3) whether his Department has taken any steps to trace the progeny of dairy or beef cattle subsequently found to be suffering from bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Mr. MacGregor

The Ministry has initiated research to obtain descriptive epidemiological information about BSE, to examine the role of meat and bone meal as the source of BSE, and to determine whether cattle-to-cattle transmission can take place. Progeny of affected animals are being monitored as part of this study.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what information he has about the total volume of milk from bovine spongiform encephalopathy infected cattle, banned from sale for human consumption;

(2) whether he has any plans to introduce a compensation scheme for milk from bovine spongiform encephalopathy infected cows.

Mr. MacGregor

Animals affected by BSE produce little or no milk. Information about the total volume is not available. There are no plans to introduce a compensation scheme for milk.

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