FSA to decide on younger BSE test
8 January 2001
FSA to decide on younger BSE test
By FWi staff
FOOD safety watchdogs should decide if Britain needs to test cattle under 30 months old for BSE, says farm sinister Nick Brown.
The minister told the BBC Radio 4 Farming Today the Food Standards Agency should say whether Britain should follow Germanys plan.
New rules from 01 January prevent over-30-month cattle getting into the food chain unless they have tested negative for BSE.
But Germany proposes to extend this to all cattle over 24 months old.
British BSE controls already bans cattle aged over 30 months from entering the food chain.
In another development, Germany has admitted that agribusiness interests have been put ahead of consumer protection in the case of BSE.
German MPs have called for the resignation of health and agriculture ministers.
Meanwhile, Britain should be “morally condemned” for causing BSE on the Continent, according to French agriculture minister Jean Glavany.