IN BRIEF
IN BRIEF
uBRUSSELS has cut next years planned spending by almost k2bn (£1.23bn), as the beef market improves and foot-and-mouth comes under control. This means the budget for 2002 is k4.4bn (£2.7bn) less than the maximum allowed under Agenda 2000, although budget commissioner, Michaele Schreyer, insists that savings cannot be diverted to other farm supports.
uITALY and Germany received the all-clear to grant state aids to some of their farmers who have suffered the side-effects of the BSE crisis. Those in the German area of Hessen will get 100% compensation for disposing of animal feed containing meat and bonemeal, and for BSE testing. Farmers in Lombardia will get heavily subsidised loans to help offset income losses.
uBSE does not appear to be reaching epidemic proportions in continental Europe, according to compulsory tests on over 30-month cattle destined for the food chain. Out of 4.15m tests between January and August this year, just 145 were BSE-positive. But BSE is much higher in tests of fallen stock and emergency slaughter animals. *