Lower costs in prospect as BSE regulations set to be relaxed

More than a decade has passed since the spectre of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy hung over the UK livestock industry. Hefty tranches of European Union legislation were introduced at that time to ensure there would be no danger to humans.

Now with hardly any cases being recorded, Europe is considering dismantling the regulatory requirements, a move welcomed yesterday by NFU Scotland on the grounds that it will help reduce costs for the red meat sector.

Union vice-president Nigel Miller said the proposals acknowledged the huge improvements in the disease situation in recent years, and provide an opportunity to strip out expenses associated with the current regime.

"There would be an immediate benefit to the industry if the age at which cattle entering the food chain require BSE testing were to be increased from its current level of 48 months.

"At the same time, any opportunity to reduce the cost burden associated with the disposal of Specified Risk Material would be welcome.

Miller indicated that a priority for the union would be to achieve changes to the rules that still require older sheep carcasses to go through the costly process of being split to remove the spinal cord. "Ongoing disease surveillance has shown the national flock to have a high health status in spongiform disease terms so there is little justification for carcass splitting to be retained," he said.

The publication by the European Union of the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Road Map 2 highlights six specific areas where regulations could be lifted.

Apart from the issues raised by NFU Scotland there is also the issue of dropping any cohort cull, as the number of BSE-positive animals dropped to zero in 2009. Animals could be sold for consumption provided they are tested with negative results before entering the food chain.

Yesterday's proposals were welcomed by Scottish MEP Alyn Smith, a member of the European Parliament's agriculture committee.

"This has been a long time coming, and I commend those who have worked so hard on it for so long," he said.

"Clearly, safety and public confidence are paramount, but it is clear to me that the science has moved on, so it is right that the regulations move on also. Stripping out costs from the industry has to be good news, and in the same way as my report flagged up a number of ways to strip out costs and get more value from the fifth quarter, this roadmap goes a long way towards ushering in a sensible and proportionate regime."

"This document represents a workmanlike and sensible approach, and I'm glad that it is moving forward."