Written question asked by James Gray (Conservative) on Wednesday, 8 September 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 4 October 2004. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Monday, 4 October 2004 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 plans she has to abolish the over 30 month scheme.

Answer: Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to abolish the over-30-month scheme. [188500] Mr. Bradshaw: The future of the over-30-month Scheme is linked to any change to the over thirty months (OTM) rule. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) advised on 6 July that a move to replace the OTM rule by BSE testing of cattle born after 1 August 1996 continues to be justified on the grounds of the food- borne risk to consumers and proportionality. The Government are still considering the FSA advice. No decision has been made as yet.

Secondary information