§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the up-to-date position on each of the 17 measures he has taken to control salmonella in poultry to which he referred to in his answer of 3 March 1989,Official Report, column 375; whether any measures have been withdrawn; whether any new measures or other initiatives have been introduced; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerAll the measures to control salmonella in poultry listed in the answer of 3 March 1989,Official Report, column 375, were implemented in full.
The details of the salmonella control measures have been kept under review. New arrangements for slaughter and heat processing of flocks which the Ministry requires to be slaughtered and trials for antibiotic treatment of pullet laying flocks were introduced in March 1990. Less onerous testing and registration requirements for small flocks of breeding birds were introduced in November 1990. The automatic slaughter of laying flocks of domestic fowl infected with salmonella typhimurium was discontinued in January 1991. Arrangements for owners of infected flocks to send eggs for pasteurisation as an option to compulsory slaughter were announced in October 1991.
Booklets on food safety in the home have been published as well as the production of a video and two information packs for schools.
The measures introduced to control salmonella in eggs and poultry are necessary to ensure the continued protection to public health. I will continue to keep the measures under close review in the light of changing circumstances and developing scientific knowledge and will continue to press for harmonised salmonella controls to be applied throughout the European Community.