§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure that sheep grazing on upland areas affected by radiocaesium contamination do not enter the food chain. [87860]
§ Mr. RookerAffected areas are subject to orders made under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 which restrict the sale, movement and slaughter of sheep. Sheep to be moved off restricted farms must be monitored, and if found to be over the action level of 1000 becquerels per kilogram (Bq/kg) of caesium, are marked as ineligible for slaughter. Marked sheep can be moved to clean grazing and released for slaughter three months later when the radiocaesium has decayed to safe levels. Random check monitoring of sheep carcases at488W slaughterhouses serving the restricted areas has confirmed that no animals over the action level are getting into the food chain. The highest radiocaesium level ever found in a carcase was 533 Bq/kg (in 1991).