§ David BurnsideTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to achieve separate moderate BSE status for Northern Ireland.[115273]
§ Mr. PearsonUntil last week the definition of BSE moderate risk status was 100 BSE positive cases per million adult cattle aged over 24 months. Northern Ireland incidence of positive cases of BSE for the period May 2002 to April 2003 is 112 positive cases per million adult cattle aged over 24 months. In view of this incidence level it was not possible for Northern Ireland to seek separate BSE moderate risk status.
At the Annual General Meeting of the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) in Paris on 18–23 May, the EU proposed and the OIE accepted that, taking into 568W consideration the active BSE monitoring programmes in place, and their efficiency at detecting BSE cases, the definition of "moderate risk status" should be doubled to 200 cases per million adult cattle aged over 24 months.
The current BSE incidence rate in the UK is above the 200 cases per million requirement but on current trends should drop below the 200 cases threshold by the end of the year. Taking Northern Ireland alone, we are already below the 200 threshold.
While the development at OIE is welcome, before the UK or any region can be classified as having moderate risk status, this needs to be recognised in EU legislation. This may not necessarily be straightforward.
Discussions are taking place with the European Commission on how best to present a case that all the criteria for moderate risk status are met. This is being taken forward on a UK basis but I will wish to consider making a separate case for Northern Ireland if progress on the UK case is delayed.