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Written question asked by Mark Todd (Labour) on Wednesday, 10 October 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 15 October 2007. It was answered by Jonathan Shaw (Labour) on Monday, 22 October 2007 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Livestock: Botulism

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many cases of botulism have been reported in livestock in 2007; and if he will make a statement;
Answer

According to the latest available figures, there have been 30 suspected botulism incidents in cattle and sheep in England and Wales in 2007 (27 in cattle and three in sheep). This figure includes some clusters which have been recorded as a single incident or outbreak where more than one premises has been affected.The Animal By-Products Regulation (Regulation (EC) No. 1774/2002) is enforced through the Animal By-Products Regulations 2005 in England, and equivalent legislation in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The regulation prohibits the composting of poultry carcases or the spreading of litter or manure containing carcase material.DEFRA has recommended good practice in litter management and disposal, including expansion of biosecurity messages to broiler farmers to highlight the risks of disease transmission caused by poor carcase removal practices. Advice and guidance is available via the Veterinary Laboratory Agency (VLA) and DEFRA websites.Veterinary practitioners have been alerted to the issue via letters to the Veterinary Record from the VLA/DEFRA, and the issue has recently been included in a British Cattle Veterinary Association newsletter. Advice on the risks of botulism associated with broiler litter and how these risks may be reduced has also been an agenda item in meetings between the VLA and farmers. One such meeting was held in North Derbyshire on 9 October 2007.The Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) set up a sub-group to look at the issue of botulism in cattle, and published a report in December 2006. DEFRA acted as an assessor on this group, and the report endorsed the current DEFRA/VLA guidance on the disposal of poultry litter. A further ACMSF sub-group, which also includes a DEFRA assessor, is now looking at the issue with respect to sheep and goats. It will publish its findings in due course.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
157988; 465 c87-8W
Session
2006-07
Subjects
Livestock Botulism
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk