HC Deb 23 July 1996 vol 282 cc260-2W
Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has evaluated relating to transgenic mice in relation to(a) human prions and (b) bovine prions. [36934]

Mrs. Browning

The Department and its expert Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee, has considered numerous papers on this subject in recent years. There are several groups now specialising in this area, most notably those led by Professor Prusiner in the United States, Professor Weissman in Switzerland, Professor Collinge in London, and at the BBSRC Institute for Animal Health at Edinburgh and Compton. Professor Collinge also briefed SEAC personally before he became a member of the committee. His most recent paper specifically on the subject was published inNature on 21 December 1995. The Department will be funding development of transgenic models in the current financial year for the study of BSE.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has evaluated relating to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy transmission to macaques. [36933]

Mrs. Browning

The Department and its independent advisory committee, SEAC have considered the paper published inNature on 27 June 1996 by Dr. Lasmezas and co-workers in France and Dr. Ironside of the CJD surveillance unit, United Kingdom.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to promote European co-operation on(a) core data definition and acquisition and (b) the quarterly publication of surveillance data on BSE. [36937]

Mrs. Browning

All member states have been circulated with descriptions of the clinical disease as seen in the United Kingdom, including a video presentation of a series of cases. Furthermore, criteria for diagnosis of BSE post mortem have also been agreed internationally, within the EC and world-wide, and published in a scientific and technical review of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE), 1992, Vol 11, No 2. Eds Bradley and Matthews. Indeed, the Central Veterinary Laboratory is the OIE reference laboratory for the diagnosis of BSE.

With respect to acquisition of data, some member states participate in a surveillance programme for rabies in which all cattle that prove to be rabies negative are subsequently examined for the presence of BSE. No cases have been diagnosed by this means.

BSE is a notifiable disease in all member states. Cases must be reported to the Commission and member states weekly in accordance with Council directive 82/894 as amended by Commission decision 90/134.

Mr. Duncan Smith

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what scientific research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated to ascertain whether the treatment of cattle with organophosphates has affected the incidence of BSE; and when the use of this treatment was discontinued. [38260]

Mrs. Browning

[holding answer 22 July 1996]: Epidemiological studies at the beginning of the BSE outbreak showed no correlation between the use of agrochemicals and outbreaks of disease but a correlation with concentrated animal feed. The independent advisory committee, SEAC, considered a number of alternative hypothesis of the cause of BSE in its report published in 1994, which is in the Library of the House, including the role of organophosphorus compounds, but decided that none of the hypotheses was sufficiently strong to justify extending the current research programme to cover them. Epidemiological studies continue to show the absence of a link between OP compounds and BSE, not only in the UK but in Switzerland where there have been over 200 cases of BSE but Phosmet is licensed for the treatment of warble fly in cattle.

OP compounds continue to be licensed for the treatment of cattle in Great Britain.

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