§ Mrs. BallardTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has conducted into the relationship between the incidence of BSE in foreign countries and(a) the export of meat and bonemeal from Britain for use in animal feed and (b) the use of similar procedures in the production of meat and bonemeal for animal feed in those countries. [29722]
§ Mr. RookerThe Department is not undertaking any such research as it is up to individual countries to conduct their own research. Alternatively, in the case of BSE in EU Member States, the Commission may carry out research centrally.
In a report of a Commission Mission to France between 17 and 21 March 1997, the French authorities are quoted as attributing at least 18 of their BSE cases to consumption of meat and bonemeal of UK origin.