Ban on Portugese beef is considered

9 October 1998

Ban on Portugese beef is considered

AN OUTRIGHT ban on the export of beef from Portugal is one of the options being considered by the EU Commission in response to the countrys worsening BSE situation.

On Wednesday, commissioners called on farm commissioner Franz Fischler to produce an appropriate action plan as soon as possible.

The move followed a report by EU inspectors which criticised the lack of controls on recycling meat and bonemeal in Portugal, and an apparent escalation in the number of BSE casualties.

Since 1993 there have been 140 confirmed cases, 57 of which were diagnosed this year.

Other possible actions under consideration include a ban on the use of all meat and bonemeal, or an extended surveillance programme.