This warning comes from the National Beef Association which says the number of pre-August 96 born cows, forbidden to the food chain as part of the agreement with the European Commission which laid down conditions for the re-opening of the export market, turning up at commercial abattoirs has increased to levels which could soon attract the attention of EU inspectors.

“When the export market was re-opened last May the UK industry promised that all cattle born before the end of July 1996 would be processed through the Older Cattle Disposal Scheme (OCDS) and none would enter the food chain,” explained NBA chairman, Duff Burrell.

“However despite earlier, and repeated, advice that this rule was being broken the number of OCDS cattle turning up at food chain abattoirs is increasing, rather than decreasing, and with this comes the possibility of a hostile, and unwelcome, EU response.”

“It is amazing that four to six pre-August 1996 born cattle a week, some 250 in total since last May, are still being discovered by the check system in place at commercial abattoirs. The European Commission has already been alerted because one carcase entered the food system towards the end of last year and UK traders were embarrassed by the huge, and expensive, product recall that had to be set in operation.”

Source: Farming UK