EU Faces Pressure On Bone - In Beef
UK - The British beef industry is to press the European Commission to pave the way for a return to beef being sold on the bone from animals aged up to 30 months throughout Europe, rather than just Britain alone.
30 May 2007
1 minute read
This follows publication of the much-awaited European Food Safety Authority Opinion, which states that BSE infectivity would either not be detectable or not present in the vertebral column in cattle up to and including 30 months.
It has held meetings with Defra, Seerad and the Food Standards Agency, as it believes the government and industry has to go to Europe with a united approach.
The Scottish beef industry is calling for a consensus view, with all European member states raising the limit to 30 months. "We have to have everyone in harmony. The TSE roadmap calls for consensus, so it is better to take a European approach," said Alistair Donaldson, executive manager of the Scottish Meat Wholesalers Association. "There is no significant advantage in taking a UK-only approach."
He said the UK beef sector was now trying to find via the UECBV, the European Livestock and Meat Trading Union, the industry and government positions in other member states on moving the age limit to 30 months.
Donaldson also believes that the case for raising the age limit has to be based on science rather than economics if it is to be won.
Source: meatinfo.co.uk
