This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6368123.stm

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 7 Version 8
Hygiene 'lapses' at bird flu site Hygiene 'lapses' at bird flu site
(about 4 hours later)
Bernard Matthews was warned about hygiene lapses at its Suffolk turkey farm before the bird flu outbreak. Meat firm Bernard Matthews was warned several times about hygiene lapses at its Suffolk turkey farm before bird flu broke out, an official report claims.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs says gulls were seen taking meat waste from open bins. The Meat Hygiene Service gave advice. Inspectors saw gulls feeding on waste left in uncovered bins and buildings with holes big enough for rats, the environment department, Defra, said.
The report says poultry imported to the UK from Hungary is the "most plausible" cause of the bird flu outbreak found at Holton in Suffolk on 3 February. Its report concluded the most likely cause of the Holton outbreak two weeks ago was poultry imported from Hungary.
Bernard Matthews said it had followed all of Defra's biosecurity regulations.Bernard Matthews said it had followed all of Defra's biosecurity regulations.
Safe to eat 'Deficiency' warnings
In a statement, the company said: "Bernard Matthews welcomes both of these reports as they confirm that its conduct has always been legal and have thanked us for our support in this investigation." The Defra paper, which looked into the sources of the outbreak, was released on the same day as the Food Standards Agency (FSA) delivered its report on the outbreak.
The FSA found no evidence that meat had entered the UK food chain from infected areas of Hungary.
It concluded that all food importing and processing activities carried out at the Holton site had complied with EU laws.
Allowing wild birds to feed on raw poultry meat left in the open is highly irresponsible Chris HuhneLiberal Democrats
The agency said Bernard Matthews staff had been verbally warned about "deficiencies" a number of times but the problems had been sorted out each time.
The FSA's veterinary director, Alick Simmons, said there were "concerns about the disposal of animal by-products", which needed to be assessed by Defra.
In a statement, the firm said it welcomed both reports, saying they both confirmed that its conduct had "always been legal".
It said the authorities had identified ways in which biosecurity could be enhanced and the company would "comply with any recommendations".It said the authorities had identified ways in which biosecurity could be enhanced and the company would "comply with any recommendations".
"Bernard Matthews will continue to work closely with the authorities involved and wants to remind consumers that the FSA has confirmed that properly cooked poultry is perfectly safe to eat," said the statement. "Bernard Matthews will continue to work closely with the authorities involved and wants to remind consumers that the FSA has confirmed that properly cooked poultry is perfectly safe to eat."
It comes after parallel investigations found: The Defra investigation found that:
  • Pest control workers noted last month large numbers of gulls attracted to uncovered bins full of trimmings from turkey breasts
  • This had also been a problem last year
  • Gulls were observed carrying turkey waste away and roosting on the roof of the turkey houses 500 metres away
  • There were holes in the houses that could have allowed birds or rodents in
  • Polythene bags containing residue of liquid waste could have blown around the site
  • Plastic-covered bales of wood shavings used as bedding were kept outside
  • Pest control workers noted last month that large numbers of gulls attracted to uncovered bins full of trimmings from turkey breasts
  • This had also been a problem last year
  • Gulls were observed carrying turkey waste away and roosting on the roof of the turkey houses 500 metres away
  • There were holes in the houses that could have allowed birds or rodents in
  • Polythene bags containing residue of liquid waste could have blown around the site
  • Plastic-covered bales of wood shavings used as bedding were kept outside
The Meat Hygiene Service also said it had had to offer advice on rules that were being broken a number of times over the last year. Defra stressed that its investigation into the outbreak was still going on.
But investigators have found all food importing and processing activities at the Bernard Matthews plant at Holton complied with European law. The firm could still be prosecuted if it is found to have breached laws on the disposal of animal by-products.
Defra announced that the firm had lifted a voluntary ban on poultry movement to and from Hungary, with effect from 0001 GMT on Saturday. But the company said the ban would remain in place for the time being. Firm 'in denial'
It imposed the ban on 8 February during concern over the outbreak at its plant. Defra said wild birds were unlikely to be the source of the outbreak - as H5N1 has not been found in such birds since August last year, and surveillance at the Holton plant failed to find any infected animals.
Defra said there was "little evidence" of wild birds spreading the disease to the UK.
The H5N1 strain found on the site is nearly identical to that in Hungary.
The government has now completed its interim epidemiological report into the source of the outbreak.
Original source
It said wild birds were unlikely to be the source of the outbreak as H5N1 has not been found in such birds since August last year, and surveillance at the Holton plant failed to find any infected animals.
Fred Landeg, deputy chief vet, said: "We may never be able to conclusively pinpoint the original source of the virus."Fred Landeg, deputy chief vet, said: "We may never be able to conclusively pinpoint the original source of the virus."
An investigation led by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) found there was no evidence of meat coming from inside the restricted zone around the outbreak in Hungary to the UK. The H5N1 strain found on the site is nearly identical to that in Hungary - where Bernard Matthews has a plant which regularly supplied meat to its UK operation.
A parallel investigation by the Health Protection Agency found there had been little risk for workers at Holton and there was no need for antiviral treatment. The firm said its voluntary decision to halt the movement of meat to and from Hungary - introduced on 8 February - would remain in place "until further notice".
Meanwhile, officials have also lifted a ban on gatherings of birds, such as shows, sales and racing, outside the restricted zones, as well as changing rules on shooting and keeping of domestic birds within the restricted zones. Shadow agriculture minister Jim Paice called for further studies into the way the virus was being controlled, saying the studies "raised important questions".
Disinfecting operation Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Chris Huhne accused the company of being "in denial" over events at its plant.
Bernard Matthews has defended the handling of the outbreak saying that there were no attempts at a cover-up. Sales have fallen 40% at the firm. "Allowing wild birds to feed on raw poultry meat left in the open is highly irresponsible, as it could lead to widespread contagion," he said.
Following a cull and a disinfecting operation, the plant started to receive consignments of turkeys from other sites in the UK on Tuesday.Following a cull and a disinfecting operation, the plant started to receive consignments of turkeys from other sites in the UK on Tuesday.
Some Bernard Matthews turkey products have already been cleared by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to be released for sale.Some Bernard Matthews turkey products have already been cleared by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to be released for sale.
The company had been voluntarily holding the products at cold stores in Chesterfield and at Holton. Meanwhile, a ban on licensed bird gatherings - including races, sales and shows - has been lifted in non-restricted parts of England, but remains in place in the restricted zone across Suffolk and Norfolk.
The first consignment of turkeys after the government gave the company the go-ahead to resume operations arrived at the Holton plant on Tuesday.
The government has emphasised that properly cooked poultry is safe to eat.