HC Deb 20 June 1990 vol 174 c622W
Mr. Alan W. Williams

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there is any evidence that scrapie can cause spongiform encephalopathy in animals other than cows by direct ingestion of infected food.

Mr. Maclean

It is concluded that at least some outbreaks of transmissible mink encephalopathy were caused by feeding scrapie-infected material and it is probable that five antelope in British zoos contracted a scrapie like disease from eating scapie-infected material.

Mr. Alan W. Williams

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will introduce higher standards in the rendering industry to prevent the scrapie agent getting into meat and bone meal.

Mr. Maclean

Consideration of such a policy must await the results of research, currently in hand, into the rendering processes required to inactivate the scrapie like agents.

Mr. Alan W. Williams

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether there is yet any evidence that scrapie can be transmitted horizontally in a flock via(a) the faeces, (b) bedding and (c) scratchings of scrapie-affected sheep.

Mr. Maclean

The information is as follows:

  1. (a) No.
  2. (b) No.
  3. (c) No.