Roger Williams MP comments on new science relating to new variant CJD
Roger Williams MP was re-elected vice-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Beef and Lamb.
During the discussion on the work the group will undertake during the next year Roger Williams MP suggested a topic that the NFU (National Farmers Union) in Brecon and Radnorshire had raised with him. At the moment the carcasses of sheep over one year old have to be split down the spine in order to remove the spinal cord. The intention of this was to remove material that may contain the prion which causes new variant CJD. However, science has now shown that sheep, as a species, do not harbour this infective agent. Therefore this procedure is unnecessary and only adds cost to the production of meat.
Roger Williams said:
“The All Party Group will be pressing the Government for a relaxation of this regulation. While protecting human health is always a priority, unnecessary measures only add to the cost of food.”
