Written question asked by Lord Taylor of Holbeach (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Rooker (Labour) on Monday, 23 June 2008.

Agriculture: BSE

Question: asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Summary: Intervention and Options document of the impact assessment of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy responsibility and cost-sharing proposals, published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 11 December 2007, when the proportion of United Kingdom cattle subject to testing for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) will be reduced, and more of the cost borne by those whose animals are found to have the disease.

Answer: The European Commission has proposed a reduced BSE testing programme for member states which meet strict criteria. In February 2008, member states agreed a proposal establishing the criteria. This is currently subject to European Parliament and Council scrutiny. Meanwhile, the European Food Safety Authority is assessing the risk of a range of options for increasing the age limits for testing, which will inform the Commission's decision on the structure of the reduced programme. We do not expect to implement a reduced testing programme in the UK before January 2009 at the earliest. This is subject to advice from the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee and agreement from Rural Affairs and Health Ministers, the Food Standards Agency and the EU. We expect to detect fewer than 40 cases of BSE in Great Britain in 2008 from suspected cases based on clinical signs and the testing programme which costs about £60 million per annum. The testing programme benefits the industry as a whole and there are no plans to pass more of the cost specifically to those whose cattle are found to have the disease.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 4252; 702 c202WA
Session: 2007-08
Related items: Agriculture: BSE
Monday, 7 July 2008
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Costs Cattle Testing BSE
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk