Written question asked by David Lidington (Conservative) on Monday, 14 April 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 10 June 2003. It was answered by Baroness Beckett (Labour) on Tuesday, 10 June 2003 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what health and safety guidance she has given to (a) farmers and (b) veterinary surgeons on the slaughter of heifers found to be infected with bovine TB.

Answer: Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what health and safety guidance she has given to (a) farmers and (b) veterinary surgeons on the slaughter of heifers found to be infected with bovine TB. [109852] Margaret Beckett: It is standard practice for bovine TB reactors to be removed from farm as quickly as possible and slaughtered at an abattoir by a trained slaughterman. In cases where reactor animals are unfit to travel to a slaughterhouse, arrangements are made for slaughter to be carried out on farm by a knackerman, and for a post-mortem to be carried out by the State Veterinary Service (SVS). As farmers or veterinary surgeons do not routinely carry out the slaughter of TB reactor animals Defra has not issued specific guidance on this.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 109852; 406 c723-4W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Cattle Health and safety Farms Livestock Waste disposal Slaughterhouses Bovine tuberculosis
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk