CLARIFICATION REGARDING MEDIA REPORTS ON 'MAD COW DISEASE'

Reference is made to a Press report which appeared today in a section of the local media regarding 'Mad Cow Disease' in local farms.

Prior to said report, the newspaper in question had asked a numbers of questions regarding the local situation on farms on the basis of the EU Press statement saying that animal feeds made of reconstituted animal tissue were the cause of BSE.

The answers to these questions, transmitted directly by the Director of Information to the said newspaper, were as follows:-

"With reference to your request addressed to the Hon. Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries you are kindly advised to refer to Press Releases Nos 1554 and 1636 issued by this Department on the 14^th and 24^th November respectively.

I would also like to inform you that locally, meat and bone meal in cattle feed has not been used for a very long time. The importation of pig and poultry feed containing meat and bone meal had been stopped prior to the EU Press statement issued last night (Press Release 1636 refers).

It is also pertinent to point out that all imported beef and beef products, have to carry certification from the competent authorities stating that the animal slaughtered is under 24 months of age. Moreover, such beef and beef products have to be properly labelled indicating origin for traceability purposes. Upon importation, a sample from each batch is inspected by the Department of Veterinary Services."

It is worth reminding that the animals in question are specifically cattle, so that when referring to this issue one must clearly distinguish between the generic term ‘animal' as opposed to the specific ‘cattle'. The Press Releases quoted made it very clear that while the importation of meat and bone meal for cattle feed was banned a number of years ago, the importation of such meal in feed intended for other animals had also been banned prior to the EU ban. The article in question states that while the EU has urged this ban, "Malta has not even started to debate the issue." The actual implementation of the ban is a much more effective measure than a simple debate.

Regarding the reference to "a container of animal bones arrived in Malta", it is categorically stated that no such container entered Malta, as was incorrectly reported in said article.

While public health is a major preoccupation for the Administration, as is evidenced by the immediate action taken locally prior to the EU's decision, one must avoid sensationalising issues. In such circumstances one should not base assertions on unconfirmed and anonymous sources in attempting to refute official statements.