BSE ban on older cattle lifted
The government has today lifted its ban on consuming beef from cattle aged over 30 months.
The ban was imposed in 1996 following an outbreak of BSE – popularly known as ‘mad cow disease’ – and recognition that it could be linked a brain disease in humans.
Environment secretary Margaret Beckett announced that, from November 7th, cattle over 30 months old that test negative for BSE will be authorised for human consumption.
The announcement follows advice given by the Food Standards Agency in December 2004. This suggested the Over Thirty Months rule was no longer a proportionate response to the risk of BSE, because of the sharp decline in cases.
“It is excellent news that we will soon be able to increase our supplies of home-produced beef,” Ms Beckett said.
The protection of public health “remains the government’s priority”, and it was imperative for abattoirs to maintain tight controls, she added.
And she said the government would be working in Brussels “to ensure that beef from UK cattle born on or after August 1st 1996 can be exported as soon as possible”.
The Conservatives welcomed the move, describing the decision as “long overdue”.
But shadow minister for agricultural Jim Paice said farmers would still be worse off than before unless the EU lifted a ban on exports of beef over 30 months old. And he called for the government to convince European countries to lift that ban.
More than 140 people are thought to have died from the brain disease Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), which was linked to eating infected meat.
A total of 7.3 million animals were slaughtered under BSE control measures by July 2004.
