Sahnonella (Hansard, 18 May 1989)

§ Mrs. Ann Winterton
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his reply of 10 May,Official Report, column 459, whether he will make it his policy to ban the import of consignments of eggs which are found to be contaminated with salmonella.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
For technical and legal reasons it is not feasible to detain consignments of imported eggs pending testing for salmonella, which takes a number of days. However, where any sample is found to be contaminated with invasive salmonella, the Commission is informed and follow-up action taken with the member state concerned, with a view to eradication of the problem at source.

§ Mrs. Ann Winterton
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions in the latest 12 months for which figures are available consignments of imported eggs have been(a) checked for salmonella infection and (b) found to be infected with salmonella.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
[pursuant to his reply, 10 May 1989, c. 459]: Two of the samples taken from consignments of eggs in the last month have now been shown to be positive for salmonella.
In one of these cases, salmonella enteritidis PT4 was identified on the shells of eggs packed in the Netherlands. I have drawn this result to the attention of the Dutch Minister, so that measures can be taken to eradicate the problem at source.
An invasive type of salmonella was not identified in the other sample.

¹1988–89 1989–90

Service Band A Band B Band C Band D Total Total

State veterinary service 3 32 14 25 74 90

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food animal health group ² 1 1 3 5 5

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food regional administration — 0.5 1 12 13 14

¹ Grade bands:

A—Grades 1 to 6.

B—SEO-7 and equivalents.

C—EO-HEO and equivalents.

D—Clerical and industrial grades.

² Less than 0.5

Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food MINIM.

§ Dr. David Clark
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy are being identified, on average, in each week by antemortem inspection; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
On average, 140 to 150 suspected cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy are being identified each week by antemortem inspection.

§ Mr. Ron Davies
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had in the European Council of Ministers on bovine spongiform encephalopathy and its transmission.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
None.

§ Mr. Ron Davies
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Caerphilly, 4 May,Official Report, columns 195–96, which animal species are involved in experiments
292W

§ Dr. David Clark
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many man-years he estimates will be spent on salmonellosis in each of the field and veterinary investigation services, and at the central veterinary laboratory, in the next year.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
The information is as follows:

Man years

Field service 28.5

Veterinary investigation service 85.0

Central veterinary laboratory 25.5

	¹1988–89	1989–90
Service	Band A	Band B	Band C	Band D	Total	Total
State veterinary service	3	32	14	25	74	90
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food animal health group	²	1	1	3	5	5
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food regional administration	—	0.5	1	12	13	14
¹ Grade bands:
A—Grades 1 to 6.
B—SEO-7 and equivalents.
C—EO-HEO and equivalents.
D—Clerical and industrial grades.
² Less than 0.5

	Man years
Field service	28.5
Veterinary investigation service	85.0
Central veterinary laboratory	25.5