Vol. 561 No. 3
57 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of cases of BSE here in 2002; the number of cases of BSE discovered in animals born after the ban on meat and bone meal was imposed; if he has satisfied himself with the controls and measures in place to detect BSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3856/03]
In 2002, there were 333 cases of BSE, including four cohorts from depopulated herds. The higher number of cases in 2002 was due to the higher level of testing of fallen animals when 76,203 such animals were tested compared with 24,614 in 2001. The feeding of meat and bone meal to ruminants was banned in 1990 and enhanced controls in relation to meat and bone meal, specified risk material and the processing of mammalian waste products were introduced in October 1996 and February and March 1997 respectively. To date, seven BSE cases have been confirmed in animals born after the introduction of the enhanced measures. Notwithstanding the higher numbers and the small number of cases in animals born after 1996, there is an increasingly positive underlying trend in relation to BSE. This is clearly evidenced by the following. In 2002 some 2%, six cases, of cases were identified in animals less than six years old at the time of diagnosis, compared with 16% in 2001 and 40% in 2000. In the period 1 August – end December 2002, the number of BSE cases, including cohort cases, identified, at 122, was down by 32% on the corresponding period of 2001 (179). This trend is continuing in 2003. The increasing age profile of animals in which the disease is confirmed and the declining numbers of BSE cases are a positive indication that the additional controls introduced in 1996 and 1997 are having the desired effect and that the incidence of BSE will decline as older animals leave the system. However, the various elements of the control regime will be kept under continuous review.
Question. No. 58 answered with Question No. 43.
