§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) on what date her Department became aware that meat from the offspring of a cow with BSE had entered the human food chain; [28688]
(2) on what date her Department informed the Food Standards Agency that meat from the offspring of a cow with BSE had entered the human food chain. [28687]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 18 January 2002]: The Animal Health Office discovered that an offspring had been moved while under restrictions on 3 January. After further investigation, a detailed written report outlining the circumstances of the case was received in London on 8 January. The Food Standards Agency was informed on 10 January.
§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she made of using postal services to obtain the passports of the offspring of cattle with BSE during the foot and mouth epidemic. [28690]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 18 January 2002]: There was no practical alternative to using postal services in circumstances where it was desirable to minimise visits both on to and off farms.
§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many cases comprise the backlog in the seizure of animal passports in relation to BSE controls; and if she will make a statement; [28684]
(2) what response she has made to the Food Standards Agency's request for her Department to clear the backlog in the seizure of animal passports in relation to BSE controls. [28685]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 18 January 2002]: Animal Health Offices have been asked to seize all outstanding passports for offspring animals under BSE restrictions and to report on progress early in the week beginning 21 January. Animal Health Offices have also been instructed to prioritise offspring cull work.
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§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by what means her Department became aware that meat from the offspring of a cow with BSE had entered the human food chain. [28686]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 18 January 2002]: The Animal Health Office contacted the offspring's owner in order to arrange for it to be slaughtered. The farmer informed the Animal Health Office that the animal had been moved. Further investigation revealed that the animal had been slaughtered for human consumption.
§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to confiscate animal passports of cattle which are the offspring of animals with BSE and are awaiting slaughter. [28185]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 17 January 2002]: There are no changes to our policy that the passports of all offspring born after 1 August 1996 to suspected BSE cases should be removed. Checks are being made to ensure that this has happened in all cases. This does not alter the owner's responsibility to comply with restriction notices served on them.
§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many offspring of BSE-infected cattle were awaiting slaughter in January 2001; and what is the present number. [28186]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 17 January 2002]: 134 offspring of BSE-infected cattle were awaiting slaughter in Great Britain on 14 January 2001. As at 14 January 2002, there were 478 offspring awaiting slaughter.