HC Deb 25 June 1996 vol 280 cc104-5W
Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports he has received that feed infected with meat and bonemeal has been fed to cattle in England and Wales over the past 30 months. [31382]

Mrs. Browning

[holding answer 10 June 1996]: Epidemiological investigations carried out following the occurrence of BSE in animals born after the feed ban suggested that exposure was likely to be from a feed-borne source due to accidental cross-contamination of feeding stuffs with meat and bonemeal. No animal currently infected with BSE has been born within the last 30 months and the occurrence of current BSE cases does not therefore provide any evidence to date of exposure of animals to infected feed over this period. Cases arising in older animals could well be due to exposure in earlier periods.

Following recommendations from the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee in March of this year, we took steps to reinforce existing legislation so as to prevent cross-contamination of cattle rations with meat and bonemeal, which until then could legitimately be used in pig and poultry feed. From 29 March, the sale of any mammalian meat and bonemeal or any feeding stuff containing meat and bonemeal for feeding to farmed animals was prohibited and from 4 April it has been an offence to use any mammalian meat and bonemeal or feed containing it for feeding to farmed animals.

As announced on 10 June, we now intend also to make it an offence from 1 August for any mammalian meat and bonemeal or feed containing it to be present on farms, at feed mills or at feed merchants.