Imported Primates (Hansard, 9 March 1995)

§ Mr. Hinchliffe
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are taken to identify cause of death in imported primates; and what security measures are taken in these circumstances.

§ Mrs. Browning
Where a primate dies in quarantine, the whole carcase is sent to the Centre of Applied Microbiology and Research, Porton Down for rabies tests and post-mortem examination under secure conditions. Strict procedures have been laid down for the packaging and conveying of carcases to CAMR.
Where the animal has been sharing accommodation, all the survivors are kept in quarantine until the results of the tests are known.

§ Mr. Hinchliffe
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how potentially infected materials from imported primates are disposed of and decontaminated.

§ Mrs. Browning
All quarantine premises must use an incinerator, or other means accepted as satisfactory by the Ministry, for the disposal of carcases, faeces, clippings, uneaten food and other waste. If possible, the incinerator should be within the perimeter fence, and enclosed. 333W Where the incinerator is outside the perimeter fence, it must have its own lockable fence and be inaccessible to animals, and all waste must be carried to it in leak-proof sealed containers.

§ Mr. Hinchliffe
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what restrictions are placed on the movement, handling and travelling environments of non-human primates entering the United Kingdom.

§ Mrs. Browning
Under the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and other Mammals) Order 1974, all non-human primate imports into Great Britain have to be licensed and the animals have to spend six months in authorised quarantine premises. Animals may arrive only at designated ports and airports and must be transported to their quarantine premises by carrying agents authorised by MAFF to transport monkeys. The carrying agent must, within 24 hours of the landing, inform the Ministry of the landing of the animal and its conveyance to the quarantine premises. The veterinary/medical supervisor for the quarantine premises must also confirm the arrival of the animal to the Ministry within seven days.

§ Mr. Hinchliffe
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures are taken to identify potential filovirus contamination of animals before importation into the United Kingdom.

§ Mrs. Browning
Although there is no statutory requirement to test animals for potential filovirus contamination before importation into the United Kingdom, many of the animals are tested either before or after import as part of the normal health screening by the importing companies. Since 1990, a total of about 1,000 monkeys have been tested. None has revealed any evidence of filovirus infection.

§ Mr. Hinchliffe
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidelines are issued to persons handling imported non-human primates, promoting awareness of potential health risks and minimising the risks of infection.

§ Mrs. Browning
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994 require employers involved in work that might expose staff to biological agents hazardous to health to provide their employees with enough information, instruction and training for them to know what the risks are, and what precautions to take.
To assist employers in meeting their statutory obligations, the Medical Research Council produces specific guidance on infectious hazards in simians which is entitled "The Management of Simians in Relation to Infectious Hazards to Staff'.