Eu Checks Report That Uk Avoided Mad Cow Rules

The Guardian newspaper said on Friday that almost two million cattle were sold to Britain's EU partners without adequate controls to see if they had been born to cows infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease.

We are checking The Guardian story, Commission spokesman Thierry Daman told a news briefing.

The implications of such illegal exports have become more serious following recent confirmation by the UK government that BSE can be passed from cow to calf.

Daman said that EU inspectors found in August 1995 that the British Ministry of Agriculture was carrying out computer checks in line with EU rules agreed in 1990. The Commission was now checking reports from earlier inspections.

 

If there is a problem, we shall demand an explanation from the British government, Daman said.

The Guardian newspaper alleged that Britain's Ministry of Agriculture issued secret orders to its officials that they need only carry out computer checks on 10 per cent of calves exported to the continent.

EU rules required 100 per cent verification.

Veal calves accounted for nearly all live cattle exports to the continent before exports were banned by the EU in March 1996 due to fears that BSE could spread to humans.