Vol. 576 No. 2
102 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his views on the dramatic increase in the incidence of BSE in the UK discovered in animals born after the ban on meat and bonemeal came into force; if he has had discussions with his British counterpart in this regard; the number of cases of BSE in this category to date here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29197/03]
In 1996, the UK introduced a ban on the feeding of meat and bone to all farmed animals. On this basis, the UK was considered to have an effective feed ban from 1 August 1996. It is clear from the incidence of BSE in the UK in recent years that these additional controls have been effective at reducing the exposure of cattle born after this time period to the BSE agent. However, over the course of the last two years a relatively small number of BSE cases, when compared to the overall size of the epidemic in the UK, have been confirmed in cattle which were born after 1 August 1996.
A study, the results of which are expected to be published in the near future, has been carried out by the UK authorities on the first 59 of these so-called BARB cases – born after the re-enforced ban. No clear cause of disease in these animals has been identified. However, maternal transmission has been ruled out in the vast majority of these cases. Epidemiologists involved have suggested that imported feed ingredients cross contaminated with infective meat and bonemeal may be responsible but future research will also consider such issues as cattle to cattle transmission and possible environmental contamination.
In Ireland, measures to reinforce the feed ban were introduced in 1996 and 1997. To date, only two animals born after 1997 – both born in 1999 – have been diagnosed with BSE despite the testing of all cattle over 30 months of age slaughtered in meat plants and all animals over 24 months of age delivered to knackeries and/or which died on farms. In excess of 1.9 million tests have been carried out to date. The results of the epidemiological investigations into these two cases have been reported previously. No evidence of deliberate breaches of the additional control measures were uncovered.
While it has not been possible to determine the exact cause of disease in these cases, evidence of possible contamination with unburied carcase parts and-or access to old stocks of feed which may have been cross-contaminated with meat and bone material was found in both cases.
Question No. 103 answered with Question No. 81.
