§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when recommendations from the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee, concerning meat safety at slaughterhouses, specifically dealing with the deboning of cattle over 30 months in age, were communicated to slaughterhouses; how this was undertaken; and what measures will be taken in order to ensure compliance. [23211]
§ Mrs. Browning[holding answer 1 April 1996]: A consultation letter was sent out on the 28 and 29 March by my officials to all relevant organisations including those in the red meat industry, explaining the implications of SEAC's recommendations and the measures the Government are proposing to take to minimise the risk to the public from BSE, in the light of SEAC's advice. This includes detailed proposals for consultation on the deboning of cattle over 30 months in age, an indication of the immediate measures taking effect from 29 March relating to the banning from sale of meat over 30 months for human consumption, the banning of meat and bone meal from feedingstuffs and the new specified bovine material order and proposed amendments to the fresh meat regulations.
Further consultations, where appropriate, will be held with the industry. My officials will, of course, take due account of comments received from the slaughterhouse sector on all these issues.
The Meat Hygiene Service will be responsible for ensuring local compliance with these regulations. Fresh instructions have been issued to MHS, and resources are currently being deployed on a national basis, to ensure strict adherence to all of the measures necessary to restore public confidence in beef.
Schedule A: Non-Research and Development Contractor Type 1993–94£ 1994–95£ 1995–96£ Natural History Museum Evaluation work 14,285 — — Company not disclosed Evaluation work 4,313 5,298 — 2,938 — — 2,938 — — Til Occam Evaluation work 4,113 2,738 — 4,113 — — 2,991 — — 1,246 — — Company not disclosed Evaluation work 2,100 1,575 — 2,168 — — Campden Food and Drink Evaluation work 2,165 — — 3,739 — — 590 — — Hazleton Evaluation work 3,123 — — 588 — — 940 — — 1,763 — — CSL Evaluation work 7,673 10,171 3,830 — 3,288 3,227 — 2,563 4,880