TSE experts meet
Following a request made at the 16 November Research Council meeting, a first meeting between national TSE (transmissible spongiform encephalopathies) experts and researchers took place on 15 December. The meeting was organised by the European Commission's DG Research in consultation with DG Health and Consumer Protection. The expert group examined current European research into TSEs and discussed ways of improving its impact, in particular through better coordination of national and Community research activities. 'Recent developments in BSE have shown that research must play a more significant role in ensuring the safety of consumers. Knowing what research is being done throughout Europe will enable us to combine our efforts to tackle the problem,' said Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin. On 16 November, the Council of Research Ministers requested the establishment of a group of national experts who should make an inventory of research undertaken in Europe, encourage the exchange of information between research groups and identify research activities to be reinforced and new actions to be launched. The European Parliament has also called for more research, especially in relation to diagnostic tests for TSEs. The Commission has provided more than 50 million euro of support for research on TSE since it launched the 'European research action plan' on TSE diseases in 1996. The group will meet again on 16 February, and a preliminary report is due to be delivered at the end of February 2001.