Written question asked by Colin Breed (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 15 November 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 30 November 2000. It was answered by Baroness Quin (Labour) on Thursday, 30 November 2000 on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Question: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what advice his Department publishes regarding the likelihood of the BSE prion remaining in soil treated with infected blood and bonemeal fertilisers.

Answer: Mr. Breed: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice his Department publishes regarding the likelihood of the BSE prion remaining in soil treated with infected blood and bonemeal fertilisers. [139134] Ms Quin: Mammalian meat and bone meal may not be used in fertilisers for agricultural land. Fertilisers for non-agricultural use may only include mammalian meat and bone meal if it has first been treated to the pressure-cooking standard. In June 1996, SEAC considered the disposal of blood and gut contents from abattoirs. The Committee noted that the spreading of blood and gut contents on land had been normal practice. They noted that concern had been expressed about the practice; however, given that no BSE infectivity had ever been detected in blood, and that there was no evidence of horizontal transmission of disease which would suggest that cattle wastes were directly infective to cattle, they saw no reason to recommend that this practice should be prohibited.

Secondary information