Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy

HC Deb 16 February 1994 vol 237 cc865-6W

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the risks to humans of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Mr. Sackville

The Government receive advice on all matters relating to spongiform encephalopathies in humans and animals from an independent, expert committee, the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC), chaired by Dr. David Tyrrell FRS.

The Government, on advice from SEAC, are satisfied that all the necessary safeguards are in place to minimise further spread of spongiform encephalopathies in animals and to prevent any risk of transmission to humans.

Scientific evidence has not revealed any link between bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle and incidence of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a human spongiform encephalopathy.