Trevor Sargent
Question:175 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the nature and extent of BSE checks carried out in meat plants and abattoirs in 1997. [23347/97]
Written Answers. - BSE Checks.
All animals presented for slaughter are required to be subjected to veterinary examination under national legislation. There are specific guidelines for veterinary staff in relation to cattle showing nervous signs suggestive of BSE. Such animals are not permitted to be slaughtered and are returned to their farms of origin where they are subject to ongoing observation by staff of my Department and examination for BSE if this is deemed necessary.
In addition, in the course of carcase dressing, parts of the carcase defined as specified risk material (S. I. No. 80 of 1997) i.e. the skull, the brain, the eyes and spinal cord of cattle aged over 12 months are removed, segregated, stained, transported, treated and disposed of, in such a way as to ensure that they do not enter the human food or animal feed chains.