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Agriculture: Scrapie

Answer

The National Scrapie Plan (NSP) was launched in 2001 against a background of concern about the risks from transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in sheep (that is, scrapie) and the theoretical risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Its complementary aims have been to protect both public health and animal health and welfare by increasing the TSE resistance of the national flock, principally through its voluntary ram genotyping scheme (RGS). The Veterinary Laboratories Agency has tested samples where suitable material has been available from all sheep diagnosed as positive for scrapie, from 1998 to the present time, for the possible presence of BSE. Samples from nearly 3,000 animals have been tested and all have been negative for BSE. Recently, in the light of this testing, and the latest scientific knowledge and research, the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee's sheep sub-group was asked to consider the latest science underpinning the RGS. It concluded that the prevalence of BSE in the UK sheep population is most likely to be zero, or very low if present at all, and that consequently the current RGS would have little impact on public health. They concluded that the RGS was still scientifically valid with respect to animal health to protect against classical scrapie. The subgroup's statement is available at http://www.seac.gov.uk/statements/sheepsubgrp-statement131006.pdf. The voluntary breeding programme elements of the NSP which include the RGS (but not the statutory, EU-required elements including compulsory controls on scrapie affected farms) are currently under review.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

1039; 688 c115-6WA

Session

2006-07

Subjects

Animal welfare Health hazards Disease control Sheep BSE Scrapie

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk