§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has considered reports that the former milk marketing board refused to take milk for reasons of BIV from a cow herd which itself was in part subsequently slaughtered for use in meat products; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. BrowningInfection with bovine immunodeficiency virus—BIV—is neither notifiable nor reportable and the disposal of infected animals is the responsibility of the owner of the animals. Infection with BIV should not preclude any bovine animals, which are not showing signs of disease, going for slaughter for human consumption subject to the normal ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections and other statutory controls on slaughterhouse operations, nor should it preclude the milk from such animals going for human consumption. In March this year, the milk marketing board decided to stop buying milk from a farm where there were cattle with serological evidence of exposure to BIV. The then Minister reviewed this decision, as required by the milkmarketing scheme, and decided not to uphold it on the ground that the board had gone outside its powers in the scheme.