BSE Testing Change Could Benefit UK Meat Sector

A move to raise the age limit from 30 to 48 months at which UK cattle are tested for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), would, if implemented, help reduce processors' costs and free up supplies.

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA), following a meeting yesterday, said it supports the move to testing at 48 months but would not wish this to be implemented until a further report on surveillance has been produced and this has been passed to the Spongiform Encephalopathies Advisory Committee (SEAC) for review.

SEAC said that an increase in the age at which cattle intended for human consumption are BSE tested would represent "a minimal to negligible increase in the risk to human health."

The proposal to raise the age at which cattle are BSE tested came as a result of recent changes to EU legislation. EU Members States are now allowed to apply to reduce their monitoring programs for BSE.

In the UK, any move to raise the testing age of cattle slaughtered for food has to be agreed by FSA and subsequently must have ministerial approval.

Source: FoodProductionDaily.com