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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 14 Feb 2002

Vol. 548 No. 4

Written Answers. - Legislative Programme.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

30 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he has new legislative proposals to deal with the escalating BSE crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4964/02]

There is a strong statutory basis, under the Disease of Animals Acts, 1966-2001, and instruments made thereunder, dealing with the BSE. Within this framework I am satisfied that a comprehensive range of measures is in place both to protect consumers and for the control and eradication of the disease. These include compulsory notification of the disease, the depopulation of herds, the tracing and slaughter of birth cohorts and progeny of the infected animal, a ban on the use of meat and bone meal for farmed animals and the removal and destruction of specified risk materials from ruminant animals. In addition all cattle presented for slaughter over 30 months of age and all fallen and casualty animals over 24 months of age are also tested for the disease.

Some 49 cases of BSE have been confirmed to date in 2002 up to 7 February. In addition one positive cohort animal has been detected. There were 91 confirmed cases of BSE in 1999, 145 in 2000 and 242 in 2001. The entire increase in 2001 is attributable to more intensive active surveillance, particularly among fallen animals which would not, in any event, have entered the human food chain. It is noteworthy that despite the vastly increased levels of active surveillance in 2001, no case has been confirmed in an animal born after July 1996.

This is a positive indication that the enhanced BSE controls introduced in 1996 are having the desired results and that the disease should begin to work its way out of the national herd as older animals leave the system.

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