The
Food Standards Agency is to consider the latest draft report on BSE controls at
an open public meeting of stakeholders on Thursday in London.
The current draft report
is to recommend new controls on the possible use of animal blood in animal feed,
and recommends a complete ban on intra-species recycling. It also calls for
EU action on possible cross-contamination of animal feed in countries with a
known risk of BSE, and for a tightening up of the UK cattle tracing system.
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Sir John Krebs, Chairman
of the FSA, said: “The evidence is that the current UK controls, which
are based on the precautionary approach, are working. But, because of so much
uncertainty, the review suggests that current controls be retained and in some
areas tightened.
“The review is still
subject to further consultation and discussion by the FSA Board. Even after
the review is concluded, the Food Standards Agency will continue to reassess
the situation to ensure the public is afforded the highest levels of protection.”
MAIN POINTS
The review recommends a
ban on the recycling of animal blood, gelatin and tallow in animal feed. Although
it is unclear how much animal blood, if any, is used in animal feed the FSA
is proposing a precautionary approach that supports the principle of banning
intra-species recycling (cannibalism).
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By GlobalDataThe review recommends rejecting
requests from industry that pig meat and bone meals be allowed to be fed to
poultry, and recommends a complete ban on intra-species recycling.
The report says that intra-species
recycling could theoretically amplify a new TSE in a species, which would be
difficult to detect, by which time it could have established a substantial pool
of infectivity.
Blood from animals that
are permitted for human consumption is allowed to be spread on land, subject
to certain waste management controls. The review proposes that the FSA examine
this issue once it has received advice from SEAC to assess any food safety implications.
The review points out that
passport discrepancies have been found in about 10% of cattle inspected, including
documentation and poor record keeping. The report recommends that the discrepancies
be reduced to as close to zero as possible to ensure traceability of all cattle.
The report says that controls
for sheep and goats were introduced on a precautionary basis as a risk reduction
measure, since BSE has never been found in the UK national flock. However, the
report says that if BSE were to be discovered in sheep the current controls
would be inadequate.
Current research to look
for BSE in sheep is costly and slow. Therefore, as a matter of great urgency,
there is a need to develop and apply a rapid screening method so that large
numbers of sheep can be tested to reduce the uncertainty of whether or not BSE
occurs.
The proposed MAFF breeding
programme using genetically resistant rams will take 10 years or more to complete.
More immediate steps are needed – MAFF is developing these. The risk management
option should consider what might be done whilst BSE in sheep remains a theoretical
possibility and a contingency plan if BSE were to be discovered.
The report says that the
problems of cross-contamination of animal feed formerly found in the UK are
likely to be occurring elsewhere with similar results. It urges the EU Commission
to take action especially in countries with a known risk of BSE.
New research is recommended
on:
- better diagnostic tests
for rapid screening of BSE - pigs and poultry to
clarify earlier findings that these species do not harbour TSE infectivity
when orally exposed - the possibility that
some cattle and sheep may be carriers of BSE without developing the disease - sheep intestines that
are used for sausage casings to assess if the process ensures that lymphoid
tissue and, with it, any risk of infectivity is removed - milk from cows that
have been experimentally subjected to high and low doses of BSE to detect
evidence of the prion protein (the infective agent in humans)*
* No milk is allowed into
the food chain from cows with BSE and research has shown no infectivity in milk
from BSE
Summary of the main BSE
controls
Over thirty month rule
This prevents meat from
any cattle over thirty months, whether home reared or imported, from entering
the food chain. The only exceptions are those from low BSE-risk countries or
from beef assurance scheme herds. Research has shown that BSE does not normally
develop in cattle under thirty months.
Meat and bonemeal ban
This prevents the use of
meat and bonemeal in any animal feed which is believed to be the main way in
which BSE spread through the cattle population. Since August 1996, no case of
mammalian meat and bonemeal has been discovered in ruminant feed.
Specified Risk Material
(SRM)
It is compulsory for all
specified risk material from cattle, sheep and goats to be removed from the
animals before entering the food chain. Specified risk material contains the
highest risk of infectivity. Independent monitoring has shown that a breach
of rules occurred in less than 1% of the 4,000 audit checks carried out each
year.
Incidence of BSE (1999)
| Northern Ireland | Scotland | England and Wales | Republic of Ireland | France | |
| BSE cases per million cattle over 24 months old |
7.5 | 40 | 472 | 26 | 2.8 |
The next meeting of stakeholders
to consider the draft report is open to the media and the public. It will be
held at the Cumberland Hotel, Marble Arch, London W1. Registration is at 10.15am,
for an 11.00am start. Further information: The full report and further information
is available from www.bsereview.org.uk
FSA Press office 0207 972
2373
Out of hours: pager 07669 074642
