Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (Hansard, 26 May 1989)

§ Mr. Paice
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the Government have taken action to protect human and animal health in relation to bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
Yes, in a number of ways. It was intelligence-gathering and research by the state veterinary service which identified bovine spongiform encephalopathy as a new disease of cattle in November 1986. Further research at the CVL and neuropathogenesis unit, Edinburgh, has shown that it is one of a group of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.
The most likely cause of the disease, which is the feeding of ruminant-based rations originating from scrapie-infected sheep, was established through research at the CVL as part of a comprehensive study of herds with affected cattle. As soon as this became clear the Government imposed, from 18 July last year, a feed ban on ruminant based protein.
When the clinical symptoms of the disease and techniques available to confirm it were firmly established through the examination of brain tissue it was, on 21 June 1988, made notifiable.
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In April 1988 the Government set up an independent working party under the chairmanship of Sir Richard Southwood, professor of zoology at Oxford university, to look at bovine spongiform encephalopathy and to advise, particularly on any human health implications.
An interim recommendation was made in June 1988 that, although there was no evidence of a risk to humans, as a precautionary measure all cattle suspected of having bovine spongiform encephalopathy should be slaughtered and destroyed to take them out of the food chain. The Government acted promptly on this and the slaughter policy began on 8 August.
A research committee, under the chairmanship of Dr. David Tyrrell, has been established to advise on research in relation to bovine spongiform encephalopathy and the other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies following another interim recommendation.
Further interim recommendations were made in November 1988, first, again as a precautionary measure, to destroy milk from suspect cattle and secondly to extend the feed ban indefinitely. Legislative measures came into force in December to prohibit the use of that milk for human or animal consumption (except the cow's own calf) and to extend the feed ban. It will continue in force unless methods which destroy the bovine spongiform encephalopathy agent can be identified.
Following the publication of the Southwood report on 27 February 1989, which welcomed the Government's action to deal with the disease, including the pre-empity and present implementation of interim recommendations, and which concluded that the risk of transmission to humans was remote, the Government agreed to take further measures as part of a comprehensive response to all the working party's recommendations. These are: Following expert advice, the establishment shortly of a research project which will continue the study already under way to determine whether cattle to cattle transmission can take place. The issuing by 15 March of additional guidance to medicine manufacturers using bovine material on good manufacturing practice. A continuing and thorough research programme into the epidemiological background to the disease, its transmissibility, and genetic and microbiological aspects. The Government will also be taking into account the advice given to them by the Tyrrell committee. A review by the Health and Safety Executive to determine what guidance may be appropriate in relation to all diseases of animals, including BSE, that may present a hazard during occupational exposure. Although there is no evidence of a link between Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease and scrapie, the monitoring of the former so that any change in the pattern of the disease is detected. As a matter of extreme prudence, following a suggestion in the Southwood report, the introduction of legislation to guard against any future use of certain offals in baby food, even though they are not currently used in their manufacture.
The Government's commitment to protecting human and animal health following the emergence of BSE is clearly shown by the action already taken and the further action which will be taken if it is shown to be necessary. In financial terms it will probably mean a resource commitment in excess of £6 million in this financial year.

§ Mr. Ron Davies
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Caerphilly of 18 May,Official Report, columns 291–92, what methods are used in attempting to transmit spongiform encephalopathies to the various species involved in the experiments.
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§ Mr. Donald Thompson
Three methods of inoculation are used: intracerebral, intraperitoreal and intravenous.

§ Mr. Ron Davies
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Caerphilly of 18 May,Official Report, columns 294–95, what certification is supplied to Germany and Israel in respect of meat and bone meal and bovine spongiform encephalopathy; what monitoring and analysis of the meat and bone meal is carried out by the United Kingdom authorities; how long this certification has been required; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
At the request of the authorities of the Federal Republic, the certification will confirm that the consignment does not contain material derived from cattle which, when slaughtered, were under official restriction due to suspicion of BSE. No analysis or monitoring in respect of BSE is required. Local veterinary inspectors appointed by the Ministry sign export certificates and are responsible for ensuring that consignments have been produced in accordance with the requirement of the importing country.
No certification is being supplied at present for the exports to Israel. We are entering into discussion with Israel about its requirements. We were first advised by Israel and Germany of new certification requirements in November and December 1988 respectively.

§ Mr. Ron Davies
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Caerphilly of 22 May,Official Report, column 375, whether he intends to initiate legal action for libel against the BBC Radio 4 "Face the Facts" programme over its allegations concerning the Southwood committee's recommendations on compensation for bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
No.

§ Mr. Ron Davies
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has received concerning the level of infectiousness of protein derived from bovine spongiform encephalopathy infected cattle which have been slaughtered prior to the onset of clinical symptoms of the disease.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
Proposals for research into this area are currently being considered by Dr. Tyrrell's research consultative committee.

§ Mr. Ron Davies
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been done to ensure that meat and bone meal exported from the United Kingdom are free of the agents causing bovine spongiform encephalopathy or scrapie.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
The conditions under which meat and bone meal is exported from this country are a matter for the importing country to determine.

§ Mr. Ron Davies
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has received any representations or interim reports from the Tyrrell committee on research into transmissible spongiform encephalopathy.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
No, but I understand that the Tyrrell committee will be making an interim report shortly.