From Justin Stares
Daily Mail
05 May 2008
A PLAN to relax the Europewide ban on feeding animal remains to pigs and chickens has triggered uproar. The move from Brussels comes 16 years after mad-cow disease ravaged British farming. European commission scientists say it is now safe to feed pig remains to poultry, and vice versa, because Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) has almost disappeared.
But opponents accuse the scientists of taking risks with human health by letting ‘nasty gubbins’ back into the animal feed chain.
They warn that the danger of contaminating cow feed would be high – and this could trigger a ‘flare-up’ of BSE.
The scientists have briefed Euro MPs ahead of an official proposal expected early next year. They say that poultry and pigs, unlike cattle, should be allowed to eat animal remains because they are not vegetarian but omnivores and their diet would naturally include some meat.
Relaxing the EU ban brought in 14 years ago would save some farmers millions, given that the price of standard cereal-based feed has rocketed.
Neil Parish, the Conservative MEP who chairs the European parliament agriculture committee, confirmed that the scientists had discussed the proposal with members.
Mr Parish, a former dairy farmer who lost cattle to the BSE outbreak in the 1990s, said he warned Brussels officials of the danger of contamination in feed mills.
Feed designated for chickens and pigs, even if pronounced safe, could find its way into cow feed and the BSE problem could flare up once again, he said. ‘We have to be very careful here as we don’t want cattle feed getting mixed with other feed for pigs and poultry.
‘BSE only disappeared when we banned remains in feed completely,’ he said.
The Soil Association said that removing the ban was not necessary because alternatives exist.
Campaign manager Robin Maynard said: ‘There are lots of nonmeat proteins available for chickens, such as bread and potatoes.’ He added: ‘We throw away about a third of the food that we buy. Before we think about putting all this nasty gubbins back into the animal feed chain we should think about proper recycling.
‘Supermarkets could be encouraged to put together a mash for chicken feed.’
Not even British farmers, who are set to gain most from the proposal, are backing it.
Robert Newbery, chief poultry adviser at the National Farmers’ Union, said: ‘The jury is most definitely still out on this. We don’t want to turn out products which the consumers don’t want.’
The European Commission said it would make a final decision next year.
Spokesman Cristina Arigho said: ‘It is true that the BSE situation is improving.
‘There is a study on feeding pig remains to poultry due due in 2009.’
A proposal on lifting the ban would be made ‘based on these results’, she said.
The EU banned the use of animal remains for farm feedstuffs in 1994 at the height of the mad-cow crisis. Under the latest plan, the ban on feeding animal remains directly to cows, or feeding cow remains to other animals, would remain in place.
Yesterday another spokesman said: ‘What is being considered is still in its very early stages. No proposal is on the table.
‘What the commission would never consider lifting are key safeguards such as feeding ruminant remains to animals or putting specified risk materials like spinal chords into feeds.’
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it would back the move only if proper safety tests were introduced.
‘We understand the European Commission will be submitting a proposal later this year,’ said a spokesman.
BSE was blamed for infecting hundreds of humans with the incurable brain disease vCJD.
Some 183,000 BSE cases have been confirmed in Britain since the epidemic was first identified in 1986 and there have been 163 confirmed deaths from vCJD in Britain since 1990.
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