§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further necessary scientific studies were required between the announcement of his proposed ban on human consumption of bovine offal on 13 June and its implementation on 13 November; and what were the results of those studies.
§ Mr. MacleanStudies were conducted into the presence of lymphatic tissue which might harbour the bovine spongiform encephalopathy agent, in bovine gut and tripe, casings and rennet produced from it. The results showed that no restrictions were necessary on bovine stomachs (including the tripe organs) or rennet. Intestines and the casings produced from them did, however, contain significant amounts of lymphatic tissue and were thus included in the ban as a precautionary measure.