HC Deb 14 May 2004 vol 421 c640W
Mr. Waterson

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the time scale is for the introduction of comprehensive testing for BSE; and if she will make a statement. [170624]

Mr. Bradshaw

The UK already undertakes extensive BSE testing which includes all casualty cattle and fallen stock aged over 24 months; all healthy cattle entering the Over Thirty Months Scheme (OTMS) aged over 42 months and born after 31 July 1996; a random sample of 10,000 older healthy animals entering the OTMS; and any cattle aged over 30 months sold for human consumption (currently limited to a small number of cattle aged 30 to 42 months from herds approved under the Beef Assurance Scheme). Since January 2001, the UK has tested over a million cattle.

Health Ministers are currently considering advice from the Food Standards Agency that the Over Thirty Month rule could be replaced by testing. For practical reasons related to the need to cull cohorts of BSE cases, Rural Affairs Ministers agreed last year that cattle born before August 1996 should remain permanently excluded from the food chain for both domestic consumption and export. Any cattle aged over 30 months sold for human consumption will be tested.