§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tests he has carried out on milk for the presence of the organism causing BSE in the last three years; what was the outcome of the tests; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerMilk has never been shown to transmit any of the spongiform encephalopathies or to contain the infective agent.
Nevertheless, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food funded work starting in 1988 at the Royal Veterinary College, London to determine whether infectivity exists in milk, mammary gland—udder—or supramammary lymph node of four cows with confirmed BSE. No infectivity was found.
A second experiment has been initiated in which susceptible mice will be fed milk from six confirmed cases of BSE—two each at early, mid and late lactation. The results will be published in the normal way when the experiment is complete.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his Ministry's progress in developing a blood test for BSE; and when he expects that such a test might be available for use.
§ Mr. GummerStudies are still under way to develop a satisfactory diagnostic test to detect the BSE agent in the live animal. It is not possible to forecast when such a test might be available, or even to be sure that a blood test will necessarily be the best method of detection. The hon. Member can rest assured that I shall announce any change in the position without delay.