Written question asked by Lembit Opik (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 20 October 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 24 October 2005. It was answered by Caroline Flint (Labour) on Friday, 28 October 2005 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Brucella Viruses

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures her Department has taken (a) to monitor and (b) to prevent food contamination by brucella viruses; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: Food hygiene legislation places the responsibility on food business operators to produce food safely, and there is no requirement for routine monitoring of the food supply for brucella organisms. The only specific requirements in respect of brucella and food are in dairy and meat hygiene legislation. Raw milk from cows or buffaloes must be heat treated unless it comes from animals belonging to a brucellosis free or officially brucellosis free herd. Raw milk from ewes or goats must be heat treated unless it has come from animals belonging to a production holding which is either brucellosis free or officially brucellosis free. All susceptible animals slaughtered for human consumption undergo official post-mortem inspection under official veterinary supervision. Meat from animals suffering from acute brucellosis must be declared unfit for human consumption as must the udder, genital tract and blood from animals that have reacted positively or inconclusively to a brucellosis test.

Secondary information