Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 27 Mar 1996

Vol. 463 No. 4

Written Answers. - BSE-CJD Link.

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn

Ceist:

143 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if his attention has been drawn to a statement by a United Kingdom Minister in the House of Commons suggesting a link between BSE disease in animals and CJD disease in humans; whether he will give an assurance to the public regarding the safety of Irish beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6660/96]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

I am aware of the statement in the House of Commons suggesting a possible link between BSE disease in animals, prior to the introduction of additional controls in 1989, and CJD disease in humans.

The information, which is part of an ongoing review of BSE, was evaluated by the EU Scientific Veterinary Committee, a group of independent scientists from the 15 member states. The committee concluded that, while there was no direct evidence that BSE is transmissible to man, the risk of transmission could not be excluded and it recommended the adoption of special measures to deal with the problem pending a more detailed examination of the matter. The recommendations were considered at some length by the EU Standing Veterinary Committee which advised that a ban should be imposed on the export of live animals, meat and meat products, including products destined for use in medicinal and other products, and derived meat and bone meal from the United Kingdom. The European Commission adopted such a ban today. This measure is, I believe, necessary to restore confidence in the beef market.

The incidence of BSE in Ireland is, of course, totally different from that in Britain. Since 1989, there has been a total of 124 cases in Ireland representing an annual average incidence of 16 animals in a cattle population of over seven million. All cases were aged four years and over and the age profile continues to rise. By comparison, there have been over 160,000 cases in Britain which has a cattle population of about 12 million.

Ireland is classified by the Office Internationale des Epizooties — OIE — as having a low sporadic incidence of BSE for the purposes of its international trade code which facilitates continued trade in Irish cattle and meat products. The World Health Organisation — WHO — has endorsed this recommendation. Ireland has not been included in the scope of measures adopted by the EU in relation to BSE.

Nevertheless, a series of stringent control measures have been put in place in Ireland to protect consumers and to maintain and safeguard our trade. These measures include the compulsory notification of BSE, alerting veterinarians and farmers on the nature and signs of the disease, the veterinary examination of animals presented for slaughter and the slaughtering and, more recently, the destruction of the entire herds in which BSE has occurred. Furthermore, the controls on the movement of cattle from Northern Ireland have been reviewed and, with the co-operation of the Garda and the Customs authorities surveillance along the Border has been stepped up significantly to ensure that cattle are not smuggled into the Republic. Cattle will not be slaughtered at our factories unless veterinary officers are fully satisfied as regards the origin and status of the animals. The measures in place go well beyond the internationally recommended guidelines and serve to ensure the continued safety and quality of Irish beef products.

I am satisfied as regard the safety of Irish beef.