WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2120/96 by José VALVERDE LÓPEZ to the Commission. Early detection and diagnosis of cases of BSE and CJD
Date: 1996-07-26
Institutions: European Parliament, VALVERDE LOPEZ
Subjects: European Commission, animal disease, application of EU law, cattle, consumer information, disease vector, health control, meat processing industry, public health, scientific research













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91996E2120

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2120/96 by José VALVERDE LÓPEZ to the Commission. Early detection and diagnosis of cases of BSE and CJD  


Official Journal C 011 , 13/01/1997 P. 0050 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2120/96 by José Valverde López (PPE) to the Commission (26 July 1996)Subject: Early detection and diagnosis of cases of BSE and CJDIn all the statements it has issued, the UK Government has insisted that there is no scientific proof of transmission of BSE to human beings and that the need is to regain consumer confidence.However, it is clear that, to restore consumer confidence, it is not enough to lift the total or partial ban on exports of meat and meat products. What is needed is to inform consumers clearly about the health and hygiene measures which will be taken to ensure that meat and meat products are free of BSE-transmitting agents.It appears that there is no laboratory test at present which can guarantee detection of BSE and that the only health and hygiene inspections are histopathological tests on each slaughtered animal.How long does a vet take to carry out such a test?Are individual tests conducted in abattoirs under veterinary supervision now a requirement in the UK, together with a register of the tests and identification of each cow slaughtered?Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (24 September 1996)It is clear that a laboratory test which could identify the presence of the agent of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in an animal during life or at slaughter would be a useful tool in preventing human exposure to the agent and, thereby, improving consumer confidence.However, there is at present no practical test which can achieve this. The currently available methods are time consuming and not appropriate for use at slaughter and are only suitable for the confirmation of clinical cases, or animals in the very late stages of incubation. Work is handicapped by the lack of knowledge about the nature of the agent. Existing techniques rely on the identification of other markers for disease such as histopathological changes or the presence of abnormal protein in tissue biopsy samples or fluids such as cerebrospinal fluid. So far no marker has been identified in blood or other more easily available material. At least one laboratory has developed a test which is useful in predicting the eventual onset of scrapic in sheep, using tonsil material. This will be evaluated in respect of BSE.Meanwhile, therefore, it is not possible to carry out routine tests in abattoirs. This is why the United Kingdom and the Community policy is based on the assumption that every bovine animal over the age of six months in the United Kingtom is potentially infected. Measures are then taken to remove the tissues which could contain infectivity, i.e the specified bovine material.The Commission will do all it can to assist research and development of a suitable test for the future.