§ Mr. GillTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the relationship between the use of organophosphates in the treatment of cattle and the incidence of BSE. [7352]
§ Mr. RookerThe original epidemiological investigation into BSE carried out in 1987 considered any possible association between the use of agricultural chemicals, including organophosphate insecticides, and the occurrence of BSE. None was found.
More recently, SEAC invited Mr. Purdey, a leading proponent of the theory of a link between the use of organophosphates and the occurrence of BSE, to address their meeting of 15 April 1997. The meeting was also attended by experts from the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and the Veterinary Products Committee. They did not form a view on the validity of the theory, but they did agree further avenues of enquiry into this issue. They will consider the matter again when additional data are available.