Volume 6: Human Health, 1989-96
6. Events from 1 April to 31 December 1995: human health returns to the agenda
Pronouncements and publicity in relation to BSE from various quarters
MLC position statement, July 1995
MLC response to breaches of SBO controls
Dr Calman's statement on the safety of beef, 5 October 1995
Professor Collinge meets Dr Calman, 31 October 1995

MLC position statement, July 1995

6.256 Throughout 1995 the MLC played an active role in the promotion of beef, to counter increasing consumer concerns as to the safety of beef in light of BSE.

6.257 In July 1995 the MLC issued the position statement mentioned in the overview at the beginning of this chapter.

6.258 The position statement acknowledged that cases of BSE in cattle born after the ruminant feed ban indicated that the SBO ban's integrity was not 100 per cent, and added, 'we must now tighten up controls to ensure they are totally effective'. The statement continued:

There are no implications for human health because:

(i) visibly infected cattle are totally destroyed,

(ii) all specified offals from all cattle are removed and destroyed before the meat enters the human food chain and

(iii) despite research there is no evidence whatever that BSE, or its human equivalent CJD, can be caught by man through eating beef. ¹

6.259 The MLC discussed BSE at a meeting on 27 July 1995. The Government's increased control measures were reported, as was the new knowledge underlying these changes, namely that 'the quantity of infective material required to transmit the infection was lower than originally believed, and that there had been some leakage into the cattle population despite the various bans'. The minutes recorded:

It was noted that MAFF was prepared to prosecute those who persistently failed to comply with these measures, although it was recognised that the publicity associated with a legal challenge of this type would be difficult to handle. ²

MLC response to breaches of SBO controls

6.260 The SBO ban was again discussed in an MLC meeting on 26 October 1995. It was decided that the Chairman should write to the Minister expressing the MLC's concern about breaches of the controls by abattoirs, and urging him to encourage his officials to prosecute transgressors. ³ Mr Don Curry (Chairman of the MLC) wrote to Mr Hogg expressing 'deep concern' about the 'integrity of the controls in place to eradicate BSE'. ⁴ He continued:

For some time now it has been clear that there has been a breach in the integrity of this control system at one or more points and, due to this, we now face the unpleasant prospect of having to deal with consumer reaction and the animal health implications of this disease for at least another four or five years . . .

. . .

We detect an attitude in the industry which says, 'you have told us this disease was not a threat to humans so why do we need all these controls?'. The danger that such an attitude engenders to our market, both at home and overseas is very worrying indeed.

We therefore believe it necessary for MAFF to send a clear signal to the whole industry that breaking the specified offal or ruminant protein bans will be punished extremely severely by prosecuting one of the offending abattoirs (or others not adhering to the rules).

I regret writing to you in this vein about our industry, but this issue seriously threatens confidence in our excellent British beef. I believe the time is right to take unpopular action in order to preserve the integrity of our industry and its product. ⁵

6.261 Mr Hogg responded to Mr Curry on 8 November 1995. He thanked him for his concern and stated that the series of audit visits had identified a number of failings, including apparent leakage of BSE-infected material into animal feed. He said that of much greater concern, however:

are the instances, which you highlight, where small pieces of spinal cord were left attached to carcases after dressing in slaughterhouses. In all cases the SBO was completely removed before the carcases left the premises, but this is a potentially serious failing. As you know, SBO controls are a primary measure for protecting the public from any remote and theoretical risk from BSE, and are seen as such by medical authorities here and abroad. The failure to comply with the controls on SBOs is, therefore, a very serious matter and I am not prepared to accept anything less than 100% compliance.

We have, therefore, taken a number of steps to ensure that the controls laid out in the Specified Bovine Offal Order 1995 are fully complied with. First, the Meat Hygiene Service has reinforced the instructions to its staff to enforce the regulations on SBOs most rigorously. I have discussed this with the Chief Executive and am confident that the Service is well aware of the need to do this. Secondly, where serious failings are found the MHS will prosecute slaughterhouse operators. Thirdly, the SVS have doubled the frequency of their audit visits to slaughterhouses and head boning plants. ⁶

6.262 Also on 8 November, Mr Hogg wrote to Mr McNeill of the MHS, instructing him to ensure that appropriate steps were being taken by his staff to ensure that the SBO Order 1995 was being fully enforced. He continued:

Failure to comply with these Regulations is an extremely serious matter. I must therefore ask you to make every effort to secure 100% compliance . . .

I recognise that the primary responsibility for complying with the SBO controls must rest with the slaughterhouse operators. I am, therefore, intending to call in representatives of the appropriate trade associations to make clear to them my concern and displeasure with the current situation, to remind them of their obligations and warn them that any subsequent failings will be treated most seriously and could result in prosecution. ⁷

6.263 This culminated in a meeting with representatives of slaughterhouse operators on 9 November and a press release, which confirmed that the MHS expected 100 per cent compliance and would be enforcing the controls rigorously. Furthermore, the MHS would be prepared to prosecute any operator wherever there was sufficient evidence to do so. ⁸

MLC statement on MRM

6.264 After the decision to ban the use of vertebral column for MRM, the MLC released a press statement on the prohibition. The statement quoted Mr Colin Maclean, the Director-General of the MLC, as saying that 'extra precautions would help reassure consumers'.

'There is no evidence of any link between BSE and the similar human disease, CJD,' he said. 'However, in the light of continued irresponsible media attention, which is undermining consumer confidence in meat products, the further precaution is welcome.'

. . .

'This change is an extra safeguard to the "belt and braces" already in place. The few products containing this material which are already on sale to the public present no significant risk to consumers.' ⁹

Dr Calman's statement on the safety of beef, 5 October 1995

6.265 On 28 September 1995 Dr Calman was informed of a probable case of CJD in a fourth dairy farm worker, who had had a case of BSE in his herd four years previously. ¹⁰

6.266 On 5 October 1995 DH issued a press release to coincide with the release of the CJDSU's fourth annual report. The press release quoted Dr Calman as saying:

I continue to be satisfied that there is currently no scientific evidence of a link between meat eating and development of CJD and that beef and other meats are safe to eat. However, in view of the long incubation period of CJD, it is important that the Unit continues its careful surveillance of CJD for some years to come. ¹¹

Professor Collinge meets Dr Calman, 31 October 1995

6.267 During 1995 Professor John Collinge, Professor of Molecular Genetics and Honorary Consultant in Neurology and Molecular Genetics, ¹² became concerned at 'the occurrence of apparently sporadic CJD in extraordinarily young people in the UK'. ¹³ In particular, he was concerned about two teenagers who were diagnosed with sporadic CJD and considered that these cases were 'of remarkably young onset'. ¹⁴ He felt it was important to document these cases in the literature 'at the earliest opportunity and encouraged the referring neurologists to do so'. ¹⁵ He then became aware of a third young patient with CJD. At this point he participated in a clinical case conference at St Thomas's Hospital on whether these three cases could represent the transmission of BSE to humans. ¹⁶

6.268 On 31 October Professor Collinge had a meeting with Dr Calman at DH. While there:

I gave him an update on our on-going experiments in transgenic mice and communicated my fears concerning these young cases of apparently sporadic CJD. ¹⁷