§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any evidence that environmental factors such as low lime status influence the incidence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy; and whether he is sponsoring any appropriate research.
§ Mr. MacleanThe most likely cause of bovine spongiform encephalopathy was the feeding of meat and bonemeal which included material derived from scrapieinfected sheep and subsequently from bovine spongiform encephalopathy-infected cattle. The feeding of ruminant-derived animal protein to ruminants has been banned since July 1988. A wide range of other possible factors has been considered in the continuing epidemiological study of the disease, but there is no evidence that any environmental factors have influenced its incidence.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on measures adopted in the Republic of Ireland to ensure potentially bovine spongiform encephalopathy-infected material from cattle does not enter the human food chain in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. MacleanThe Republic of Ireland operates a compulsory slaughter policy in which all cattle suspected of having bovine spongiform encephalopathy are slaughtered and destroyed. As the incidence of clinical 441W bovine spongiform encephalopathy in the Republic is negligible, the view of the scientific veterinary committee of the European Community is that further measures are not necessary.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what regulations apply to the import into the United Kingdom of bovine offal which would be subject to the Bovine Offal Prohibition Regulations (1989) if originating in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. MacleanThe Imported Food Regulations and the Importation of Animal Products and Poultry Products Order 1980, as amended.