Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 11 Jul 1990

Vol. 401 No. 5

Written Answers. - BSE Disease.

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

24 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the public concern that a BSE type disease might spread from animals to humans; if his Department have initiated any research in this area; if he intends to take any steps to reassure the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

I am aware of public concern about the suggestion that a BSE type disease might spread from animals to humans. I accordingly commissioned the Food Safety Advisory Committee in July 1989 to investigate the issues and to report to me on the outcome of their findings.

The Committee is an expert advisory body established by both my colleague, Deputy Michael O'Kennedy, Minister for Agriculture and Food, and me to provide advice on all aspects of food safety and on diseases transmissible from animals to humans. The range of expertise covers human and veterinary medicine, bacteriology, toxicology, environmental health, food analysis and food science.

In January 1990 the report of the committee was presented to both the Minister for Agriculture and Food and myself. That report concluded that there was no evidence to suggest that BSC or scraple is transmissible to humans. In arriving at this outcome the committee had regard to various studies carried out including the February 1989 UK Department of Health/Ministry of Agriculture, fisheries and food working party report on bovine spongiform encephalopathy and also to conclusions reached at international fora such as the December 1989 meeting of the foot and mouth diseases and Other Epizootics Commission of the Office International des Epizootics in Paris.

The committee in addition endorsed the action taken to date by the Minister for Agriculture and Food in making the disease subject to compulsory notification and in requiring that all infected cattle be slaughtered and destroyed and their owners compensated. The committee agreed to keep abreast of developments, legislation, research findings and other information relevant to BSE.

I am maintaining close contact with the Minister for Agriculture and Food on this matter in order to ensure the safe-guarding of public health. He has advised me that the EC Scientific Veterinary Committee examined the issue as recently as 6 June and has affirmed that meat derived from bovine animals in countries which BSE has been recorded is not considered to be of danger to public health.

I am aware that the confirmation of spongiform encephalopathy in cats has raised further fears among the public about the possibility of transmission from animals to humans. I have asked the Food Safety Advisory Committee to re-examine the matter and I understand that the committee's second report will be completed by the end of July.