- BRUSSELS, Dec 10 (Reuters) - European Union scientists have advised that
parts of cattle spine and other animals be removed from the food chain
over fears they may transmit mad cow disease, the European Commission said
- The scientists examined the safety of
vertebral columns following a ruling last week from Britain's Farm Minister
Jack Cunningham that bone-in beef be removed from sale in the UK.
- The EU's independent, but influential
Scientific Steering Committee said the intestines of bovines, sheep and
goats of all ages and the lungs, vertebral column and dorsal root ganglia
of these animals when more than 12 months old should be added to a list
of banned materials.
- "The scientists suggested that these
materials should be excluded from the food and feed chain if they do not
originate in a BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) free country,"
the Commission said in a statement.
- EU officials are still examining the
advice, but said it could have implications for the sale of certain beef
cuts such as t-bone steak in parts of Europe other than Britain.
- Partly as a result of fresh scientific
evidence, the European Commission has proposed a three-month postponement
of a ban on so-called Specified Risk Material (SRMs), which was due to
come into force on January 1.
- The SRM ban covered the brain, spinal
cord and eyes from cattle, sheep and goats over one year old. It is now
possible the list will be extended in a new proposal to take effect on
April 1, 1998 which could include cattle's vertebral columns.
- EU scientists are still examining the
safety of bone marrow -- the other subject of the British scientific evidence,
which led to the ban on sales of all beef on the bone in the UK.
- 09:30 12-10-97