HC Deb 14 January 2003 vol 397 cc21-2WS
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mr. Elliot Morley)

The latest Progress Report on BSE in Great Britain will be placed in the Library of the House today.

The Report explains how we have managed BSE during the period 1 January—30 June 2002. The encouraging reduction in BSE in cattle continues. This shows that the controls which have been put in place are continuing to have an important effect.

The Report discusses the introduction of an enhanced active TSE, surveillance programme and the Food Standards Agency's review of the Over Thirty Month Rule. It covers issues bearing on European matters and the TSE research programme. It also sets out progress on the National Scrapie Plan and the results of enforcement visits to ensure compliance with the rules on specified risk material and animal feed.

The report is being published on Defra's website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/bse/index.html