Table Of ContentJUTC
HOUSE OF COMMONS SESSION 1995-96
AGRICULTURE AND HEALTH
COMMITTEES
MEETING CONCURRENTLY, PURSUANT TO Se ene (4)(e)
OF STANDING ORDER No. 130
(SELECT COMMITTEES RELATED TO GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS)
BOVINE SPONGIFORM
ENCEPHALOPATHY (BSE)
AND
CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB DISEASE (CJD):
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Minutes of Evidence
Ordered by The House of Commons to be printed
27 March, 17 and 18 April and 20 May 1996
LONDON: HMSO
£17.00
HC-331
OF
HEN OQHONN
HOUSE OF COMMONS SESSION 1995-96
AGRICULTURE AND HEALTH
COMMITTEES
MEETING CONCURRENTLY, PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (4)(e)
OF STANDING ORDER No. 130
(SELECT COMMITTEES RELATED TO GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS)
BOVINE SPONGIFORM
ENCEPHALOPATHY (BSE)
AND
CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB DISEASE (CJD):
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Minutes of Evidence
Ordered by The House of Commons to be printed
27 March, 17 and 18 April and 20 May 1996
INFORMATION SERVICE © |. -
WS -3 JUL 1996 D
Wellcome Centre for Medical Science
LONDON: HMSO
£17.00
HC-331
il MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN JOINTLY BEFORE
LIST OF WITNESSES
Page
Wednesday, 27 March
(Morning Sitting)
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Rt Hon S Dorrell, MP and Sir K Calman, KCB
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FooD
Rt Hon D Hogg, QC, MP, Mr K Meldrum and Mr T Eddy
SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Professor J Pattison, Dr R Kimberlin and Dr R Will
Wednesday 27 March
(Afternoon Sitting )
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
24
Rt Hon S Dorrell, MP and Sir K Calman, KCB
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Rt Hon D Hogg, QC, MP, Mr K Meldrum and Mr T Eddy 24
SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Professor J Pattison, Dr R Kimberlin and Dr R Will 24
Wednesday 17 April
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Sir K Calman KCB 68
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Mr K Meldrum CB, Dr S Dealler and Dr H Narang 68
SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Professor J Pattison 68
INSTITUTE FOR ANIMAL HEALTH
Professor J Bourne 68
a erennmeyesern Cremer ershn
if a t reT etw e RA CT
i Wednesday 18 April
Professor T Lang awh aut e 119
or »MEAT. HYGIENE:SERVICE.. ..,
Mr P Soul RE 119
FEDERATION OF FRESH MEAT WHOLESALERS
Mr A Bowes, Mr J Baker and Mr R Cracknell 119
THE AGRICULTURE AND HEALTH COMMITTEES ili
LIST OF MEMORANDA INCLUDED IN
THE MINUTES OF EVIDENCE
Page
Memorandum by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (T1/BSE1) ]
Joint memorandum by the Ministry of EAR Fisheries and Food, and the
Department of Health (T5/BSE11) Ag
Memorandum by Dr Stephen Dealler (T7/BSE4) 50
Extract from a memorandum by Dr Harash Narang (T8/BSES) 65
epicsE xtract from a memorandum by Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Letter
from Mr R Bradley, Central Veterinary Laboratory (T9/BSEI1A) 90
Letter from Dr Stephen Dealler (T10/BSE4A). 90
Supplementary memorandum by Dr Stephen Dealler (T1 /BSE4B) . 91
Supplementary memorandum by Dr Harash Narang (T12/BSESA) ... 99
©I9 D
Further supplementary memorandum by Dr Harash Narang (T13/BSES5B) ... 101
10. Extract from supplementary memorandum by the Department of Health (T6/BSE10) 109
Memorandum by the Federation of Fresh Meat Wholesalers (T2/BSE6) Lid
Ps Memorandum by the Meat Hygiene Service (T3/BSE8) 135
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9
MINUTES OF EVIDENCE
TAKEN BEFORE THE AGRICULTURE AND HEALTH COMMITTEES
MEETING CONCURRENTLY, PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (4)(e)
OF STANDING ORDER NO. 130
(SELECT COMMITTEES RELATED TO GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS)
WEDNESDAY 27 MARCH 1996
Members present:
AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE HEALTH COMMITTEE
Mr Richard Alexander Mr John Austin-Walker
Mr D N Campbell-Savours Mr Hugh Bayley
Mr Robin Corbett Mr David Congdon
Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones Alice Mahon
Mr Martyn Jones Mr John Marshall
Mr Edward Leigh Mrs Marion Roe
Sir Roger Moate Mr Roger Sims
Mr Colin Pickthall Rev Martin Smyth
Mr William Powell Mr Richard Spring
Sir Jerry Wiggin Mr John Whittingdale
Mrs Ann Winterton Audrey Wise
Sir Jerry Wiggin was called to the Chair.
Memorandum by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY (T1/BSE1)
Chronology of events
Date Event
November 1986 Disease identified by Central Veterinary Laboratory following study of affected cow
referred to Weybridge for investigation and post mortem. Transmission experiments
needed which required fresh material from animals thought to be suffering from the
same problem.
April 1987 Initial epidemiological studies started. Objective was to obtain detailed data from a
case study of 200 herds.
5 June 1987 CVO informs Ministers about new disease. Transmission experiment then put under
way. Not known if disease was transmissible at that stage. Normal time for disease
to develop in mice proved to be about 10 months. Results available September 1988
and published October 1988 in Veterinary Record.
15 December 1987 Initial epidemiology studies completed. Concluded ruminant derived meat and bone
meal was only viable hypothesis for cause of BSE.
January—March 1988 Double checking of feeding histories of affected animals initiated; request sent to
compounders for details of inclusion of meat and bone meal in rations fed.
April-May 1988 Responses from compounders further substantiated hypothesis for cause of BSE.
21 April 1988 Southwood Working Party announced. Government indicated that they would
legislate to make BSE notifiable and to ban feeding of rations that contained protein
derived from ruminants.
June 1988 Discussions with major compounders on timing of ruminant feed ban.
The cost of printing and publishing this Volume of Minutes of Evidence is estimated by HMSO at £7,170.
MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE
27 March 1996] [ Continued
Date Event
14 June 1988 The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Order 1988 (SI 1988 No 1039) was made,
article 7 came into effect on 18 July and the remainder on 21 June.
20 June 1988 Southwood Working Party held first meeting and decided to issue interim advice
immediately.
21 June 1988 Provisions of BSE Order 1988 came into effect with the exception of article 7. Made
BSE notifiable and provided for isolation of BSE suspects when calving.
22 June 1988 Interim advice received from Southwood—destroy affected cattle; proposed feed ban
welcomed.
7 July 1988 Decision to introduce slaughter policy announced.
18 July 1988 Ruminant feed ban comes into force (included in BSE Order 1988, but
implementation delayed until 18 July). Ban to apply until 31 December 1988 while a
review of rendering processes was conducted.
8 August 1988 Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (Amendment) Order 1988 (SI 1988 No 1345)
and the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Compensation Order (SI 1988 No 1346)
came into effect. Provided for slaughter policy and compensation to be paid at 50 per
cent value for confirmed cases, 100 per cent for negative; both subject to a ceiling.
October 1988 Transmission to mice following intra cerebral inoculation of BSE brain tissue
reported in Veterinary Record.
15 November 1988 Further interim advice received from Southwood—extend feed ban and destroy milk
from infected cattle.
28 November 1988 Disease made notifiable and slaughter policy introduced in Northern Ireland by the
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Order (Northern Ireland) 1988 (SI 1988 No
422) and the Diseases of Animals (Modification) (No 2) Order (Northern Ireland)
1988 (SI 1988 No 421).
30 November 1988 Decision announced to prolong feed ban and prohibit the use of milk from suspect
animals for any purpose other than feeding to the cow’s own calf.
30 December 1988 The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (No 2) Order 1988 (SI 1988 No 2299) came
into force to prolong feed ban and to prohibit use of milk from suspect cattle for any
purpose other than feeding to cow’s own calf.
11 January 1989 Diseases of Animals (Feeding Stuffs) Order (Northern Ireland) 1989 (SI 1989 No 8)
banned the use of animal protein in ruminant feed in Northern Ireland.
9 February 1989 Southwood Report received by Ministers.
27 February 1989 Southwood Report published and Government response announced (all
recommendations have or will be introduced).
27 February 1989 Establishment of Tyrrell Committee on research announced (one of Southwood’s
recommendations).
10 June 1989 Tyrrell Report received by Government.
13 June 1989 Decision to introduce offals ban announced. Ban is Government initiative not a
recommendation of Southwood, it was only concerned with baby food.
28 July 1989
EC ban on export of cattle born before 18 July 1988 and ee of affected or
suspect animals. (Decision 89/469/EEC.)
13 November 1989 The Bovine Offal (Prohibition) Regulations 1989 (S.I. 1989 No. 2061) Regulation
came into force in England and Wales which banned the use of certain specified
bovine offals (SBO) (following consultation—a legal requirement—and
consideration by top experts).
9 January 1990 Publication of Tyrrell Report and Government response (all top and medium
priority work recommended either under way or would be undertaken). Publication
delayed so could ensure finance for R&D was in place. Research itself was not
delayed.
30 January 1990 The Bovjne Offal (Prohibition) (Scotland) Regulations 1990 (S.I. 1990 No. 112) and
the Bovine Offal (Prohibition) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1990 (S.I. 1990 No.
30) introduced the SBO ban in Scotland and Northern Ireland following additional
consultation.
THE AGRICULTURE AND HEALTH COMMITTEES MEETING CONCURRENTLY
oS)
SS sess sss
27 March 1996] [ Continued
Date Event
31 January 1990 Announcement that five antelopes have succumbed to a spongiform encephalopathy
(greater kudu, arabian oryx, eland, nyala and gemsbok. The last two were referred
to in Southwood report).
3 February 1990 Cattle to cattle transmission following intra-cerebral and intra-venous inoculation of
BSE brain tissue and into mice via the oral route reported in Veterinary Record,
following press briefing on 2 February).
14 February 1990 The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Compensation Order (S.I. 1990 No. 222)
introduced full compensation up to a ceiling. There was no sudden surge of cases
indicating that farmers had not been reporting. Pattern of reporting was unaffected.
1 March 1990 EC restricts exports of cattle to those under six months which are slaughtered before
that age (Decision 90/59/EEC made 7 February).
30 March 1990 Administrative ban on export of specified offal and certain glands and organs (for
uses other than human consumption) to other Member States.
1 April 1990 Disease made notifiable to European Commission (Decision 90/134/EEC made 6
March).
3 April 1990 Announcement about the establishment of permanent advisory group on spongiform
encephalopathies under Chairmanship of Dr David Tyrell.
9 April 1990 EC Decision to ban exports of SBO and other tissues (90/200/EEC)—formalises
administrative ban imposed on 30 March.
11 April 1990 Humberside County Council withdraw British beef from school meals.
10 May 1990 Announcement about cat with a spongiform encephalopathy.
17 May 1990 Announcement that decisions about breeding from offspring of affected cows should
be left to individual farmers and their veterinary advisors.
8 June 1990 Council of Ministers agree arrangements for trade in beef and calves from UK
(Decision 90/261/EEC made 8 June).
12 July 1990 Publication of Tyrrell Committee’s detailed reasoning on why no need to give official
advice on breeding from offspring of BSE cases.
12 July 1990 Report of Agriculture Committee published.
23 July 1990 UK progress report to OJE meeting.
24 September 1990 Announcement on improved record keeping in cattle herds.
24 September 1990 Laboratory transmission of BSE to a pig announced. Tyrrell Committee advise no
implications for human health but, as precaution on animal health, ban specified
offals in all animal feed (including pet food).
25 September 1990 The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (No. 2) Amendment Order 1990 (S.I. 1990
No. 1930) extended the ban on the use of specified bovine offals to any animal feed.
Exports of such feed also effectively banned to other Member States. (Third country
exports banned under DTI legislation on 10 July 1991.)
28-29 September 1990 OIE meeting in Paris; recommendations made regarding trade in cattle, beef, dairy
and bovine products and co-ordination of research.
2-5 October 1990 OIE Conference in Sofia (Bulgaria); recommendations made regarding trade,
prevention, control and surveillance of BSE, the support of research and the need for
further consideration on trade in live animals.
15 October 1990 The Bovine Animals (Identification, Marking and Breeding Records) Order 1990 (S.
I. 1990 No. 1867) introduced new record keeping arrangements requiring cattle
farmers to maintain breeding records. These and movement records to be retained
for 10 years.
21 November 1990 Publication of Government response to Agriculture Committee Report.
27 March 1991 First case announced in BSE offspring born after ruminant feed ban.
May 1991 UK Progress Report to the OIE General Assembly.
10 July 1991 The Export of Goods (Control)(Amendment No. 7) Order 1991 came into force
controlling export of SBOs to third countries. (Dept. of Trade & Industry
legislation.)
16-20 September 1991 Meeting of OIE International Animal Health Code Commission in Paris.
4
MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE
27 March 1996 ] [Continued
Date Event
28-30 October 1991 OIE Conference in Tehran.
6 November 1991 The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Order 1991 consolidated existing BSE
legislation and introduced new provisions to prevent the use of meat and bone meal
produced from SBO’s as a fertiliser.
4 March 1992 Results of further experiments on the host range of BSE announced. Also that the
Tyrrell Committee had considered the latest BSE research and concluded that the
measures at present in place provide adequate safeguards for human and animal
health.
May 1992 UK Progress Reports to the OIE General Assembly.
May 1992 OIE General Assembly in Paris agree trading conditions for bovine products from
countries affected by BSE.
14 May 1992
EC Commission Decision prohibiting intra community trade in bovine embryos
derived from BSE suspect or confirmed dams or dams born after 18/7/88 (Decision
92/290/EEC).
30 June 1992 Publication of the “Interim Report on Research” by the Spongiform
Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (Tyrrell).
November 1992 UK Progress Report presented to the EC Standing Veterinary Committee.
24 November 1992 Announced by PQ that details of the total number of cases (by county) would be
placed regularly in the library of the House of Commons.
15 December 1992 UK Progress Report placed in the library of the House of Commons.
24 May 1993 UK Progress Report presented to the OIE General Assembly.
27 May 1993 UK Progress Report to the OIE placed in the House of Commons Library.
10 June 1993 UK Progress Report presented to the EC Standing Veterinary Committee (same as
OIE Progress Report).
14 July 1993 100,000th confirmed case of BSE in Great Britain announced in response to a
Parliamentary Question, as an update to the UK Progress Report to the OIE.
25 November 1993 GB Progress Report placed in the library of the House of Commons.
1 April 1994 The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Compensation Order (S.I. 1994 No. 6743)
came into force and introduced changes to the BSE compensation arrangements.
26 April 1994 GB Progress Report placed in the library of the House of Commons.
May 1994 UK Progress Report presented to the OIE General Assembly.
27 June 1994 Commission Decision 94/381 on BSE and feeding of mammalian derived protein.
Prohibition on the feeding of mammalian protein to ruminants throughout EU other
than Denmark.
June 1994 UK Progress Report Updated.
27 June 1994 Commission Decision 94/382 made on the approval of alternative heat treatment
systems for processing animal waste. Effective | January 1995.
30 June 1994 Interim results of further BSE experiment (pathogenesis) announced. Extension of
SBO ban implemented voluntarily by industry.
27 July 1994 Commission Decision 94/474 introduced new measures on beef export as main
changes. Required bone-in beef for export to come from cattle certified not to have
been on holdings where BSE has been confirmed in previous six years.
2 November 1994 Bovine Offal (Prohibition) (Amendment) Regulations 1994 came into force,
extending ban on use of some SBO in human food to calves under six months of age
slaughtered for human consumption. The Spongiform Encephalopathy
(Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 1994 came into force, extending ban on use of
SBOs in animal feed, banning the use of mammalian protein in ruminant
feedingstuffs and making notifiable laboratory suspicion of spongiform
encephalopathies in species other than cattle, sheep and goats.
16 December 1994 GB progress report placed in the Library of the House of Commons.
14 December 1994 Commission Decision 94/474 amended by Decision 94/794. Beef from cattle born
after 1 January 1992 excluded from certification requirement.
February 1995 SEAC report “Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies—a summary of present
knowledge and research” published.
