§ Mr. LevittTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the OTM scheme will continue for passport-holding cattle when they reach the age of 30 months. [57296]
§ Mr. RookerYes. Effective implementation of the Over-Thirty-Month rule is a precondition for the lifting of the EU ban on the export of UK beef. The Government have at present no plans to modify the rule but, as with all BSE control measures, it is being kept under review. Any decision to change the 30 months age limit will be taken in the light of progress with the eradication of BSE and of further advice from the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee.