§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions in each year since 1989 animal feed producers were prosecuted for failure to comply with regulations relating to bovine spongiform encephalopathy governing the production, distribution and supply of cattle feed. [31248]
§ Mrs. Browning[holding answer 4 June 1996]: No producers of animal feed have been prosecuted for failure to comply with BSE regulations relating to the production, distribution and supply of cattle feed.
Action has been taken in conjunction with the animal feed producers where problems were identified to put these right. Feed mills are now being visited on a regular basis and samples taken for analysis. This involves tests for mammalian protein which had to be specially developed and were not available for full use until February 1996.