asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is satisfied with the present regulations for the disposal of slaughtered bovine tuberculosis reactors; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Bovine TB Reactors.
447.
The regulations for the disposal of reactor animals under the bovine tuberculosis eradication scheme have three main objectives, namely, to remove these animals as quickly as possible so as to prevent spread of disease, to control their slaughter and, by ante and post mortem examination, to ensure that only sound meat from the animals leaves the premises where they are slaughtered.
I am satisfied that the regulations are achieving these objectives.
All cattle which are ear-punched as reactors under the scheme must be disposed of direct to a registered beef export premises. Such premises operate under the full-time supervision of my Department's veterinary inspectors, who carry out ante and post mortem examinations on all reactors and who submit specimens for laboratory examination if this is considered desirable.
Under a 1964 EEC Directive, meat from TB reactors may not be released for intra-Community trade. At the time that directive became law, none of the member states was a major beef exporter. In most member states sound meat from reactor animals is, in fact, released for consumption on the domestic market.