BSE report sparks openness pledge
9 February 2001
BSE report sparks openness pledge
By Alistair Driver
THE government has promised greater openness and an improved approach to interpreting scientific evidence in its interim response to the BSE inquiry.
The document, which was published on Friday (09 February), will be debated in Parliament on 15 February.
It will form the basis of widespread consultation on the way forward for the government in the wake of the greatest crisis ever to afflict agriculture.
Recent government figures reveal that 94 people have now contracted variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (vCJD), the human variant of BSE.
The response acknowledges the main criticisms of the government in Lord Phillips 16-volume BSE inquiry, published in October.
These include a lack of openness, and the failure to understand good scientific advice and to manage and communicate risk.
A lack of “joined-up thinking” between departments was also criticised.
The inquiry revealed how emerging scientific knowledge of BSE in cattle and its potential effect on humans was withheld for fear of affecting beef sales.
The response outlines progress made in recent years and acknowledges the need for further action.
“There has been a significant loss of public confidence in the arrangements for handling food safety and standards, due in large part to the events surrounding BSE,” it says.
“The Government recognises that its efforts to build and sustain trust through openness cannot succeed unless it is fully prepared to acknowledge uncertainty in its assessments of risk.”
The Food Standards Agency, launched last year, represents a major new commitment to openness.
Farm minister Nick Brown said the response is intended to focus on the future.
“It gives full attention to the 167 specific findings and conclusions in the inquiry report and to the major themes that emerge from it,” he said.
He stressed the importance of effective consultation.
“Public debate on how the lessons in the report can be most effectively applied will help to ensure a comprehensive final government response to the BSE Inquiry report,” he said.