Vol. 542 No. 5
96 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of sheep flocks under examination as a result of suspicions that scrapie in sheep may mask BSE; when depopulation of the flocks in question will be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25133/01]
Scrapie is not a new disease in sheep and has been recorded for over 200 years. Since 1990, scrapie has been identified here in over 120 flocks out of a national total of more than 40,000 flocks. My Department has been active for the past decade in the detection, monitoring and control of scrapie. Our approach has been guided in the first instance by public health considerations, has been developed within the framework of measures to address TSEs generally and has been based on the best available current scientific research and knowledge.
The measures taken by my Department over the past decade and relevant to scrapie are as follows: flock owners are obliged by law to notify my Department of suspected cases of scrapie – these animals are tested by the veterinary laboratory service and destroyed if positive; the feeding to ruminants, which include sheep, of meat and bone meal – MBM – has been banned since 1990, and controls in this area were significantly strengthened in 1996; and specified risk material – SRM – controls covering both cattle and sheep were unilaterally introduced in 1997.
Since 1998, my Department has maintained a programme of active scrapie surveillance which involves the random testing of 8,000 samples at meat factories. Plans have been made to increase this programme to 15,000 samples with effect from 1 January 2002 and the necessary preparatory work has been in train for some time. An ongoing programme of research in areas such as strain typing, breed susceptibility and geographical distribution has been undertaken. A genotyping project, aimed at identifying the best means of breeding scrapie out of the national flock, has been undertaken since 1999. This involves assessing the feasibility of breeding-in genetic resistance to the disease.
A national sheep identification system – NSIS – which involves the individual identification and traceability of the entire national flock was introduced in June 2001. This will facilitate more precise control and monitoring measures than ever before in relation to diseases, including scrapie, in sheep. Lastly, restrictions have been made on the movement of sheep from flocks in which scrapie has been confirmed.
Against the background of these developments, the point has now been reached where it is considered that we should move to depopulate those flocks in which scrapie has been confirmed in the past three years. To date, 39 flocks have been movement restricted, 34 with a view to depopulation and five to be included in the scrapie research programme.
Additional Information.My Department will be examining a further 87 flocks which were scrapie positive prior to 1999. Depopulation of the 34 flocks will occur as soon as possible after the valuation process has been completed and suitable arrangements are in place to compensate the flock owners affected by this decision.
As and when new scientific research emerges which may indicate the desirability of adjusting or augmenting any of these measures, any necessary actions will be taken, as has consistently been the case heretofore. I would, however, point out that laboratory tests undertaken to date indicate that isolates of scrapie from Irish sheep are distinct from BSE.
For some time there has been speculation about the possible outcome to research which has been under way in Britain into whether BSE might have been present in the British sheep flock in the early 1990s and masked by scrapie. It had been anticipated that some results might have been ready to present to the UK spongiform encephalopathy advisory committee – SEAC – on Friday last. DEFRA, who had commissioned the work, had also commissioned cross-checking research to guard against the possibility of material being contaminated by cattle brains. This cross-checking has raised considerable doubt about the validity of the original sample on which the research work relating to the early 1990s has been based. As a result of these doubts the SEAC meeting which was to have considered the results of the work was cancelled and the UK food standards agency has said that the doubts about the validity of the sample are such as to prevent it from being further considered in relation to the presence of BSE in sheep in the early 1990s. I might also mention that work has been undertaken by the UK veterinary laboratories agency to seek to establish whether BSE might be in sheep in Britain today. The results so far on 180 TSE-affected brains have not produced any evidence of the presence of BSE. The issue of TSEs in sheep will be discussed at today's meeting of the Council of Ministers.
As far as Ireland is concerned, I am confident that the measures which we have already put in place, and which we are intensifying, are playing a valuable part in tackling scrapie in this country. While scrapie is of course an issue which Ireland and other countries must address, I believe that Irish lamb can, and will continue to, command the confidence of consumers at home and abroad.
That is very interesting but we already knew that. Did the Minister take the trouble to read the question? What is the situation in relation to the 39 flocks under threat of depopulation? Has the Department changed its view as a result of the appalling fiasco in the UK in relation to research as to whether scrapie could mask BSE? Does the Minister of State have anything concrete to say to the 39 flock owners who wonder whether they should feed the sheep or arrange for depopulation to be carried out?
My Department will be examining a further 87 flocks which were scrapie positive prior to 1999. Depopulation of the 34 flocks will occur as soon as possible after the valuation process has been completed and suitable arrangements are in place to compensate the flock owners affected by this decision.
The second question asked relates to what happened in Britain. What happened there raised more questions than provided answers. We are confident that the measures being taken by the Department are adequate to deal with the problem. There is no clear information coming from Britain but it certainly does not create the link so popularly touted by the media.
Has the Minister of State changed his view as to what should be done with the 39 flocks in view of what has transpired in the UK? What time frame is meant by as soon as possible? These 39 flock owners have been notified that their flocks are to be depopulated. Does that depopulation decision still stand and if it does when will it happen? They want to know exactly when because it is a matter of expenditure of large amounts of money.
It is intended to continue with the process. What has happened in Britain has not affected the system. The steps were in train before any announcement was made by Britain. It is still the policy of the Department to depopulate them. As soon as possible means as soon as possible after the valuation process has been completed. This is catch-22. We have to agree the valuation process and make the arrangement. As soon as that is done the arrangements to dispose of the flocks will be made. It would be foolish of the Department to depopulate the flocks before valuations have been arrived at with the flock owners. The Deputy would not suggest we do otherwise.
