Vol. 567 No. 3
34 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his views as to the reason so many cases of BSE continue to be discovered in animals born after the ban on meat and bone meal was imposed; the extent of his Department's analysis of this development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13977/03]
The feeding of meat and bone meal to ruminants was banned in 1990. I assume that the Deputys question refers to cases of BSE in animals born after the introduction of enhanced control measures in relation to meat and bone meal, specified risk materials and the processing of mammalian waste in introduced in October, 1996, and February and March 1997 respectively. To date a total of seven BSE cases were born in 1997 and two animals were born in 1999. Having examined the relevant records, my Department is satisfied as to the ages of these animals.
An epidemiological investigation is carried out in all BSE cases and a particularly detailed investigation was carried out in respect of the two 1999-born cases. While factors which could be associated with BSE have been identified in the farms involved, the exact cause of BSE in either of the two cases could not be identified. In any event, there is no evidence that these or the small number of other cases born after 1996 are symptomatic of a general or widespread problem with controls and this is borne out by the general trend at present.
Indeed the fact remains, despite these cases, that the underlying trend in relation to BSE is extremely encouraging. The age profile of animals confirmed with the disease is increasing, and this illustrates the effect the controls introduced in 1996 and 1997 have had on the rate of exposure. In 2002 less than 2% 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. The increasing age profile of animals in which the disease is confirmed is a positive indication that these additional controls are having the desired effect and that the incidence of BSE will continue to decline as older animals leave the system.
In addition, in the period 1st January to 30 April 2003, the number of BSE cases identified, at 82, was 38% less than the number confirmed in the corresponding period of 2002-03.
My Department will continue to rigorously enforce BSE controls in a manner which, in the first instance, provides assurance to consumers in relation to the safety of Irish beef, which protects animal health and which safeguards the future of the very important Irish beef sector.
