HC Deb 10 July 2000 vol 353 c386W
Mr. Levitt

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the process of rendering animal carcases in destroying prions. [129646]

Ms Quin

The UK has evaluated historical rendering practices by jointly funding, along with the European Commission and European Renderers Association, research work on the effectiveness of rendering systems in inactivating both sheep scrapie and BSE. Both studies have subsequently been published as indicated below, and resulted in consequential changes to European legislation on processing standards.

References: Taylor D. M. Woodgate S. L. and Atkinson M. J. Inactivation of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy agent by rendering procedures. Vet Rec (1995) 137 605–610. Taylor D. M. Woodgate S. L. Fleetwood A. J. and Cawthorne R. J. G. Effect of rendering procedures on the scrapie agent. Vet Rec (1997) 141 643–649.