§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment the Government have made of the threat to human health posed by the illegal sale of imported over-30-month beef; and when that assessment was made. [144250]
§ Ms Stuart [holding answer 8 January 2001]I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that it assessed, in December 2000, that any illegal sale of imported over-30-month (OTM) old beef from countries where there have been cases of BSE would pose a slightly higher risk than legally sold carcase meat imported from those countries. It should be borne in mind that the OTM rule is only the first defence against BSE and that the most risky parts of the animal, the specified risk material, such as the brain and spinal cord, are removed at slaughter. This greatly reduces the amount of infective material from older cattle.
In addition, from 1 January 2001 cattle aged over-30-months that are slaughtered in the European Union must test negative for BSE before being allowed into the food chain. This provides consumers with some additional protection, though the tests are limited in their sensitivity to pre-clinical infection.
§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies the Government have conducted of the impact on health of eating French beef products. [144389]
§ Ms Stuart[holding answer 8 January 2001]I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 30 January 2001,Official Report, columns 149–50W.
§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken to inform consumers about the inclusion of processed meat products in the ban on sales of imported over-30-months meat. [144492]
§ Ms Stuart [holding answer 8 January 2001]The Food Standards Agency issued a statement advising on imported beef and beef products on 22 December 2000. This is available on the Agency's BSE controls review website, and a copy has been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which Ministry has responsibility for preparations to enforce a ban on the import of beef. [146403]
132W
§ Ms Stuart [holding answer 22 January 2001]No such ban is envisaged, for the reasons given in the reply to the hon. Member on 8 January 2001,Official Report, column 436W.