EUROPE: BSE TEST IS INACCURATE

Article Abstract:

Scientists have never really been able to determine just how accurate the BSE testing process is, and now, a survey by the Independent newspaper has discovered that the European Commission (apart from Britain) have taken a cheaper approach of allowing older cattle to be eaten, as long as the cows test negative in the "validated" tests. The validation is carried out by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre in Belgium, and has overlooked how well these tests perform on supposedly healthy cattle that are in fact carrying the disease. Dr Heinz Schimmel, who has been carrying out these tests, has said that a negative result does not necessarily mean that an animal is safe to eat, and that a negative BSE result may not be negative at all as the tests only identify the animals that are in the very latest stages of incubating the disease.

Fresh Meat, Laws, regulations and rules, Meat, Testing, Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, Meat inspection

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UK: FLOCKS SLAUGHTERED IF BSE FOUND IN SHEEP

Article Abstract:

If BSE is found to be present in sheep the government would endorse a wholesale ban on lamb consumption and slaughter thousands or even millions of flocks. To date BSE has not bee detected in farm animals but a mere 200 sheep have been tested. The Food Standards Agency is pressing for a cheaper and speedier test as the current one takes as long as two years and costs over GB[pound] 20,000 each time.

United Kingdom, Regulation of Agricultural Marketing and Commodities, Agricultural Product Safety, Product safety, Inspection, Agricultural products

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EUROPE: UK FACES TRADE WAR OVER LAMB

Article Abstract:

The European Commission is proposing an increase in restrictions on sheep offal to include intestines and backbones which would include some chops and sausages with casings made from sheep gut. The proposed restrictions are because of fears that there is a risk that BSE could have been passed on to sheep as a result of pregnant ewes and feeding lambs having been fed contaminated meat and bonemeal.

International economic relations, Economic aspects

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