HC Deb 19 July 1995 vol 263 cc1470-1W
Mr. Garnier

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the BSE epidemic. [36395]

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The BSE epidemic continues to decline. Some 44.6 per cent. fewer suspect cases are being reported now compared with the same period—January to June—1994. There are now about 300 new cases a week compared with over 1,000 at the peak of the epidemic.

The decline in the number of cases demonstrates that the ruminant feed ban, the key control measure, is proving successful in bringing the epidemic under control. It is estimated that the total number of cases is at least—150,000 fewer than would have occurred in the absence of the ban. However, we are continuing to see cases of BSE in animals born after the introduction of the feed ban in July 1988. This suggests that there has been some continued leakage of BSE infective material into animal feed.

We have already taken steps to prevent this by:

  • introducing new requirements, in April 1995, on the staining of specified bovine offal.
  • reviewing the controls on SBO to consolidate and strengthen them;
  • introducing new EC standards at rendering plants and withdrawing from use a system which was found, in experiments, not to inactivate the BSE agent;
  • identifying, with the industry, the potential for cross-contamination in feed mills so that systems can be tightened up;
  • introducing the use of a new test to detect the presence of ruminant protein in animal feed.

I will shortly be making the Specified Bovine Offal Order 1995 which will consolidate and streamline the existing rules on SBO and strengthen them in some respects. The main changes to be introduced by the order will be:

  1. (i) to require all rendering plants, head-boning plants, incinerators and collection points for specified bovine offal to be approved by Ministers. Rendering plants will have to have a totally dedicated processing line for specified bovine offal;
  2. (ii) movement permits for specified bovine offal issued by local authorities will no longer be required in view of tighter controls being introduced on approval and record keeping throughout the disposal chain;
  3. (iii) the brains and eyes of a bovine animal of six months or more may no longer be removed from the head so that the part of the skill containing brains and eyes, after removal of the head meat and tongue for human consumption, will have to be disposed of as specified bovine offal.

It is clear from the surveillance of slaughterhouses and head-boning plants that has been undertaken by my officials since the Government took over full responsibility for control of such premises in April this year that current practice on the separation and staining of the specified bovine offals can be improved. Most of the failings we have identified are comparatively minor in nature—for instance, using the wrong stain—and plant operators have been given clear instructions on what they must do to put things right. But some could have resulted in BSE infected material entering the animal feed chain. Further follow-up visits are being made to ensure that the faults have been rectified. Where failings are not corrected we are prepared to bring prosecutions if necessary.

Although these lapses in our animal health control system are unsatisfactory, consumers have no cause for alarm. I am satisfied that these findings have no implications for human health and that measures to ensure that no infective material enters the human food chain are working effectively.

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cost of compensating Welsh farmers with suspected BSE cases in(a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95; and if he will make a statement. [34974]

Mrs. Browning

It is not possible without disproportionate costs to identify separately the payments made to farmers in Wales. The total amount paid out in BSE compensation in Great Britain during 1993–94 and 1994–95 was £35.2 million and £18.4 million respectively. The total number of cattle compulsorily slaughtered as BSE suspects on which compensation would have automatically have been paid in Wales during 1993–94 and 1994–95 was 3,708 and 2,080 respectively. The total number of cattle slaughtered as BSE suspects in Great Britain for those periods was 35,274 and 22,205 respectively.

Mr. Morley

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has from his Ministry or other institutions of the maternal transmission of BSE. [35590]

Mrs. Browning

None. There is no experimental or epidemiological evidence available to confirm that maternal transmission of BSE occurs. Results of research to test the hypothesis that the disease might be transmitted maternally will not be available for another two years. It is clear, however, that if maternal transmission does occur, it does so too infrequently to be detected with our current statistical techniques.

Mr. Morley

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many recent cattle identified as suffering from BSE are within the age range that could account for the disease being passed on by maternal transmission. [35591]

Mrs. Browning

Age at clinical onset is not an indicator of the route of transmission, and other routes of transmission, most notably by feed, cannot be excluded simply on the basis of the date of birth.

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