Written question asked by Baroness Browning (Conservative) on Wednesday, 6 December 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 January 2001. It was answered by Baroness Quin (Labour) on Monday, 8 January 2001 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, if all bovine carcasses imported from EU countries have been subject to post mortem tests of (a) brain tissue and (b) the central nervous system; and if he will identify those parts of the central nervous system that are tested. - (Holding answer 11 December 2000).

Answer: Mrs. Browning: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if all bovine carcases imported from EU countries have been subject to post mortem tests of (a) brain tissue and (b) the central nervous system; and if he will identify those parts of the central nervous system that are tested. [141719] Ms Quin: [holding answer 11 December 2000]: Such testing has not taken place in the past. However, post mortem tests for BSE on bovine carcases aged more than thirty months and entering the food chain will be a Community requirement from 1 January 2001. When this requirement is implemented the tissues taken for testing will depend on which test is used. The validated tests available are Prionics and CEA tests on samples of brain or ENFER tests on cervical spinal cord. The carcases will be retained until the test results are known.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 360 c448W; 141719
Session: 2000-01
Subjects: Animals Cattle EU countries Disease control Imports Testing BSE Brain Nervous system
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk