EU ministers get tough on BSE
A three point plan designed to restore public confidence in beef was passed by European Union agricultural ministers on 4 December. A six month ban on meat and bone meal in fodder, the ban of sale of cattle over 30 months and the extension of the ban of the use of spinal cord, brains and spleen to include the whole intestine were agreed by the ministers. These measures will come into effect on 1 January. The European Commission will bear 70 per cent of the costs incurred by slaughtering cattle over 30 months old. Commissioner for consumer protection and food safety, David Byrne described the cost as 'the price that must be paid to restore public confidence in our commitment to protect public health.' The meeting was chaired by French agriculture minister Jean Glavany, who said that the measures 'would allow Europe to take a major step forward' in combating BSE. Just two countries voted against the measures, Finland (claiming the measures were excessive) and Germany (claiming that the measures did not go far enough).