Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:112 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps he has taken or proposes to take to eliminate BSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20995/02]
Vol. 556 No. 5
112 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps he has taken or proposes to take to eliminate BSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20995/02]
I am satisfied that a comprehensive range of measures is in place for the control and eradication of BSE, including compulsory notification of the disease, the depopulation of herds, the tracing and slaughter of birth cohorts and progeny of the infected animal, a ban on the use of meat and bone meal for farmed animals and removal and destruction of specified risk materials from ruminant animals. It has been a characteristic of Ireland's approach to BSE that we have adopted measures which have been more rigorous and in many instances in place earlier than are required by EU legislation.