EU ponders further mad cow measures

Meat safety is becoming a political issue across Europe

By Angus Roxburgh in Brussels

EU agriculture ministers are meeting in Brussels on Monday to consider further measures to deal with the spread of BSE, or mad-cow disease.

A Europe-wide testing programme was introduced at the beginning of the year for cattle over 30 months.

EU has imposed restrictions to curb the spread of BSE

As the average incubation period for BSE is four to six years, it's been generally assumed that beef from animals as young as 30 months could be safely eaten without even being tested first.

But now there are suggestions that younger cattle should also be tested amid fears that beef from 30-month-old cows may not be as safe as was previously assumed.

Following the discovery of a case of BSE in Germany in a cow just 28-months-old, the government in Berlin last week reduced its testing age to 24 months.

Precautions

Agriculture ministers will Monday consider whether similar precautions should be adopted throughout the EU.

Some ministers are likely to be reluctant, both because of the huge additional expense and also because it could spread panic.

EU is considering lowering the age at which cattle must be tested for BSE

In Britain, consumers have been advised for the last five years that beef from animals under 30 months is entirely safe.

The government points out that there have been no cases of BSE in younger cattle since strict feed controls were introduced in 1996.

But since no routine tests are carried out, no one can be certain that this is really the case.