NFU Scotland has expressed concern over Scottish Government proposals on how it plans to meet its European obligations to test fallen sheep for Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs) in the future. 

In commenting on the proposed TSE (Scotland) Regulations 2010, the Union has highlighted that the intended route of testing fallen sheep without the owner’s knowledge or consent is unacceptable given the onerous restrictions that would be placed on a flock were a TSE identified following surveillance.

In responding to the consultation, the Union has also called for the Scottish Government to continue working at a European level to have the reducing risk posed by all cattle and sheep TSEs better recognised through reduced legislation.  Progress under the EU’s own TSE roadmap has been slow and there remains an urgent need to strip out some of the needless costs associated with diseases such as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle and Scrapie in sheep.

Commenting on the proposed TSE (Scotland) regulations, Vice-President Nigel Miller said:

“The dramatic decline in cases of BSE in cattle and Scrapie in sheep is a good news story for Scottish livestock.   Unfortunately, many of the controls associated with testing and surveillance still place a disproportionate level of cost and logistical problems on our farms and abattoirs when compared to the risk to food safety that these diseases now pose.

“It is particularly disappointing that Europe, through its TSE Roadmap, has not recognised the further significant progress made in the control of TSEs and the current low incidence within the UK and many other states.  We need the assistance of Scottish Government and Westminster to reinvigorate the discussion around current European regulations to address this.

“A simple step would be pressing for the alignment of the age at which cattle require testing for BSE when entering the food chain, and the age at which the animal’s carcase must have its spinal cord removed.   The testing requirement kicks in at 48 months of age while animals over 30 months need vertebral column removal, adding cost to our processing sector.   Similarly, progress must be made on the continued EU requirement to split older sheep carcases to remove spinal cord.  The cost that still places on our industry is unnecessary when scientists have recognised that any perceived risk of BSE being harboured in sheep is virtually non-existent and threat to food safety is negligible.

“Of more immediate concern to Scottish sheep producers are the Scottish Government’s proposals on how it intends to meet the EU’s requirements on TSE surveillance of fallen sheep. It is unacceptable that the Scottish Government intends to sample fallen sheep, via fallen stock collectors, without the owners’ knowledge or permission when surveillance results, if positive, can change the disease status of a flock and trigger significant controls and possibly slaughter.

“The Scottish Government has been providing a free service to farmers for the collection, sampling and disposal of sheep and goat carcases accepted into its surveillance scheme. We accept that this has been costly and agree that the present system can be improved.   An NFUS proposal on surveillance, involving the National Fallen Stock Company was proposed last year.  Whatever system is adopted, the selection of fallen sheep for must not be taken without the knowledge of the owner.”

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Contact Bob Carruth on 0131 472 4006