EURO-BRIEFS
EURO-BRIEFS
• BEEF producers in Luxembourg are to receive additional direct aid worth k41/animal (£25) as compensation for low prices due to the BSE crisis. The k4.8m (£2.9m) package was approved in Brussels this week and should benefit over 1700 farmers. French cattlemen will also get up to k2000 (£1224) each under a second BSE state aid scheme, cleared by Brussels.
• A HERD of 500 French cattle at Faviere in Seine-et-Marne has finally been slaughtered, after the owner unsuccessfully contested their destruction following the discovery of BSE in January. Under new French rules, calves born since Jan 1, 2002 have been spared.
• EIRE continues to experience a steep increase in the incidence of BSE, with a further seven cases coming to light last week. So far this year, 123 cases have been confirmed, compared with 242 for the whole of last year. France is also seeing an acceleration, with 82 cases compared with 274 in 2001. *