Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 22 May 2003

Vol. 567 No. 3

Written Answers. - Bovine Diseases.

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

51 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of BSE cases to date in 2003; the number of those discovered in animals subsequent to the ban on the use of meat and bone meal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13979/03]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

A total of 96 cases of BSE have been confirmed to date in 2003, including one case from a depopulated herd. The feeding of meat and bone meal to ruminants was banned in 1990, while 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. In 2003, two BSE cases have been confirmed in animals born in 1997.

In both 2002 and 2003 some 98% of cases were identified in animals aged six years or more at the time of diagnosis, compared with 84% and 60% in that category in 2001 and 2000 respectively. 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 continue to decline as older animals leave the system. However, the various elements of the control regime will be kept under continuous review.

Question No. 52 answered with Question No. 35.