Vol. 539 No. 1
66 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development his views on warnings from UK scientists (details supplied) that there is a theoretical risk that BSE could spread in meat processing plants which deal with both at-risk cattle and cattle for human consumption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18815/01]
I am familiar with this report which deals with the slaughter of cattle in the UK. It must be remembered that the UK has a high incidence of BSE and that all cattle over 30 months of age are barred from the human food chain. This in not the case in Ireland, which has a low incidence of BSE and where cattle over 30 months of age may be slaughtered for human consumption. All such cattle are tested for BSE prior to being released into the human food chain. There is, therefore, no parallel situation in Ireland in which cattle deemed unfit for human consumption are slaughtered in the same premises as those intended for human consumption.
