Livestock: Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
- From: Campaign for Fresh Air <letsstandup2bullies@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2008 23:31:10 +0000
10 July 2007 : Column 1381W?continued
Livestock: Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
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Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs what records his Department holds on the incidence of
MRSA in farm animals; and if he will make a statement. [146837]
Jonathan Shaw: MRSA has not been detected in farmed livestock in the
UK and there is no current evidence that food-producing animals form a
reservoir of infection in the UK. The organism has been isolated from
dairy cows, pigs and chickens outside the UK and an ongoing assessment
of the international picture is being maintained. The European Food
Safety Authority is looking at the issue of MRSA in food-producing
animals and considering what surveillance and other actions would be
most appropriate for EU member states to undertake to address the
issue. The UK is actively participating in the development of these
proposals.
MRSA: Pigs
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs whether he has commissioned research into the impact of
MRSA on pigs following recent cases in the Netherlands. [146618]
Jonathan Shaw: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has
been isolated from dairy cows, pigs and chickens outside the UK and
the international picture is being assessed on an ongoing basis. There
is no current evidence that food-producing animals form a reservoir of
infection in the UK and the organism has not been detected in farmed
livestock in the UK. DEFRA has initiated a study undertaken by the
Veterinary Laboratories Agency to test S. aureus isolates obtained
from bovine clinical submissions for MRSA. This project commenced in
autumn 2006 and, to date, more than 500 samples have been tested, with
no MRSA identified.
The issue of MRSA in other livestock species was discussed at a
meeting of the DEFRA Antimicrobial Resistance Coordination MRSA
subgroup in January. The subgroup was set up to advise on how best the
Department can contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the
role of MRSA in animals.
Members felt that, at present, broadening the scope of work in this
area should only be considered after analysis of the current findings
relating to humans in the UK with MRSA infections. The particular,
strain of MRSA (ST398) occurring in pigs in some other parts of Europe
was not reported to have been detected so far in humans in the UK and
this was a key consideration in reaching the decision taken. However,
the position will be kept under active review, taking into account the
latest findings in humans and animals, as well as developments in
Europe and elsewhere.
10 July 2007 : Column 1382W
The European Food Safety Authority is also looking at the issue of
MRSA in food-producing animals and considering what surveillance and
other actions would be most appropriate for EU member states to
undertake to address the issue. The UK is actively participating in
the development of these proposals.
National Income: EC Countries
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with EU counterparts on
using a possible alternative to Gross Domestic Product for measuring
economic welfare. [147180]
Jonathan Shaw: We are not aware that the former Secretary of State had
any such discussions with his EU counterparts on this issue.
Organic Food: Pesticides
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs which pesticides and herbicides are permitted for use on
organic food crops in the UK. [147411]
Mr. Woolas: Organic production in the UK is regulated under the
Compendium of UK Organic Standards.
No herbicides are permitted in organic farming.
The use of pesticides is restricted in organic production both in the
number of products available and the uses to which they may be put.
Organic farmers are encouraged to use management techniques such as
rotation, use of appropriate species and protection of natural
predators of specific pests. In some exceptional cases, it is
recognised that further treatment is needed. In such cases, only those
products listed in Annex IIB of the Compendium of UK Organic Standards
can be used, subject to the conditions set out therein. I have
arranged for copies of the Annex to be placed in the Libraries of the
House. Any pesticide used by organic producers in the UK must also
have approval from the Pesticides Safety Directorate.
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs what measures are in place to monitor the contamination
of organic food by pesticides and herbicides that are permitted for
use on such crops. [147412]
Mr. Woolas: In addition to the standard controls on pesticide and
herbicide use, organic producers are subject to the control system
outlined in the Compendium of UK Organic Standards.
These include control of the use of external inputs. The Standards are
enforced in a number of ways:
(i) By the DEFRA and UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) approved organic
inspection body that the farmer must be registered with. The farmer
must be subject to at least an annual inspection by a DEFRA approved
organic inspector from that body and may also be subject to further
unannounced inspection visits. These inspections can (and when
appropriate do) include sampling and testing. A positive result for
either a non-allowed product, or an allowed product that was either
incorrectly used or had not been approved for use as required, would
result in the
10 July 2007 : Column 1383W
imposition of sanctions ranging from decertification of the product to
decertification of the farm dependant on the severity and cause of the
case.
(ii) DEFRA organises sample surveillance inspections based on both
random and risk based selection to ensure the inspection system is
operated correctly by the approved organic inspection bodies.
(iii) The Pesticides Safety Directorate undertakes a residues
surveillance programme that includes organic samples, and tests all
samples for a wide range of pesticides including some of those allowed
in organic production. Any unusual results are passed to the Organic
Team in DEFRA who ensure the information is passed to the appropriate
inspection body for further investigation.
(iv) Deliberate breaches of standards by organic operators are dealt
with under The Organic Products Regulations 2004 (as amended),
enforcement is undertaken by Trading Standards Officers.
It should be noted that no herbicides are permitted for use in organic
farming, and discovery of their use would result in an automatic
sanction.
Pollution: Water
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs what the level of algal bloom is in Liverpool Bay; what
the locations are of algal bloom in UK waters, broken down by order of
severity; if his Department will take steps to treat non-toxic algal
bloom accumulated on the North Wales coast; and if he will make a
statement. [146894]
Mr. Woolas: Levels of algal blooms are recorded continuously at one
site in Liverpool Bay and less regularly elsewhere. Relatively high
levels of algae occur in Liverpool Bay in spring and summer, in
comparison to offshore regions or shallow regions not in the vicinity
of major rivers. However, they do not cause a problem and are similar
to other regions around the coast of England that are in the vicinity
of major rivers. An exact comparison of levels is difficult due to
differences in the frequency of measuring algal blooms. They also vary
greatly from year to year.
10 July 2007 : Column 1384W
Algal blooms eventually sink to the sea bed, and are consumed by
predators or transported by tides and currents to other regions.
Certain types of bloom-forming algae can, under certain conditions, be
transported onto the shore and may result in visible scums along the
shoreline. These present no health hazard to humans and pose a limited
threat to organisms that live on the shore.
The Welsh Assembly Government is responsible for water quality in and
around Wales.
I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 20 November 2003,
Official Report, column 1228W.
Research: Biotechnology
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs what public funding her Department has made
available in each of the last 10 years to (a) the Natural Environment
Research Council and (b) other bodies for the purposes of conducting
agricultural biotechnology research. [146078]
Jonathan Shaw [holding answer 28 June 2007]: The Department for
Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) does not fund the Natural
Environment Research Council (NERC) directly. However, DEFRA does let
contracts to NERC-sponsored research institutes. DEFRA research and
development (R and D) contracts all research organisations for
agricultural biotechnology work are summarised in the table attached.
For this purpose, DEFRA has defined biotechnology as being the
application of biological organisms, systems and processes to
manufacturing and service industries. This definition covers genetic
modification research but goes much wider to include fused cell
techniques, protein engineering, fermentation and cell culture
techniques, the production of vaccines and monoclonal antibodies and
many other techniques. It excludes pathogen characterisation and
epidemiology.
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