| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Bovine TB
Mr. Livsey: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department is currently funding into formulating a new TB vaccine for cattle. [67288]
Mr. Rooker: The Krebs report concluded that the development of a vaccine for cattle was the best long-term prospect for the control of bovine TB, but saw a badger vaccine as an alternative option if cattle vaccine requirements cannot be met. Following the publication of the report, we have reviewed our research requirements for bovine TB, and in April published a document inviting proposals. These included work to develop a cattle vaccine and to take forward work on a badger vaccine, which started in 1994. Contracts worth over £1.4 million per annum are being finalised on five projects relating to vaccine development. Nearly all of this expenditure is directed at projects relating to the development and testing of cattle vaccines.
Mr. Livsey: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce routine testing for TB in all cattle. [67271]
Mr. Rooker: Routine testing of the National Herd is undertaken in accordance with Directive 64/432, as amended, and normally exempts certain groups of cattle, mainly young stock or fattening herds in which no breeding takes place. When it is considered necessary, on animal or public health grounds, all cattle are included in routine tests.
Food Standards
Ms Keeble: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will publish (a) the draft Food Standards Bill and (b) his proposals for funding the Food Standards Agency. [68082]
Mr. Nick Brown:
I have today published the draft Food Standards Bill for public consultation, along with a consultation paper setting out our proposals for meeting
27 Jan 1999 : Column: 308
by new costs of the Food Standards Agency through a levy on certain food premises. I have placed copies of both documents in the library of the House.
The draft Bill moves us closer to fulfilling another important manifesto commitment--the setting up of an independent Food Standards Agency with the aim of protecting public health in relation to food. The Agency will play a major role in strengthening consumer confidence.
It provides for a responsible, open and authoritative body charged with protecting public health in relation to food and with powers to act throughout the food chain. The Agency will work with all interested parties to develop soundly based, balanced policies that command the public's confidence. It will discharge a range of important functions in support of its goal, advising Ministers and the new devolved authorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and helping all its stakeholders to meet the challenge of safe food.
The Bill provides for the Food Standards Agency to be a UK body. The Government will consult with the new devolved authorities to establish whether they are content to proceed with legislation on a UK basis in the way proposed in the draft Bill.
27 Jan 1999 : Column: 308
We want our proposals to be subject to full scrutiny, so that we can get it right from the start. The consultation that begins today seeks comments from all interested parties over the next eight weeks. The draft Bill will also be scrutinised by a Select Committee of Members of this House constituted for this purpose. We will refine our proposals in the light of the comments we have invited. If legislative time permits, we hope to be in a position to introduce the Bill during this session of Parliament.
We have already made considerable progress in strengthening the present arrangements in preparation for the Agency. The challenge now is to ensure that the changes we propose meet the robust standard that consumers and businesses alike can expect.
Mr. Stinchcombe:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he will take to protect organic farming from possible effects of biotechnology. [66681]
Mr. Rooker:
Our approach is to ensure that all justified concerns about genetically modified (GM) crops are properly addressed. This applies particularly to the concerns raised by the organic farming sector. We have made clear to the industry group SCIMAC, which is drawing up guidelines on the use of GM crops that they need to ensure that these contain adequate safeguards to protect organic farming.
27 Jan 1999 : Column: 309