Supermarkets have already begun removing potentially lethal European beef products before a nationwide ban comes into effect. Health authorities imposed the ban on the sale and importation of such goods to remove any threat to Australian consumers of developing the fatal human form of Mad Cow Disease.
The ban is expected to last several years and could be extended to cover bovine-derived medical and beauty products. From tomorrow, retailers will be required by law to remove all stock containing European beef -– including ingredients used by Australian manufacturers in goods such goods as pasta sauces and stock cubes.
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Consumers have been warned to check the labels on any imported food that may contain beef from a European country as the withdrawal of all banned products from stores is expected to take several days.
Suspect goods include European frankfurters, corned beef, soups, hot dogs, luncheon meats, salami and pate.
Australian health officials confirmed they are contemplating extending the ban to drugs and cosmetics that contain beef extracts from European countries in which mad cow disease and its human equivalent have arisen.
Thirty European countries are involved in the ban and include Albania, Croatia, Iceland, Ireland and Greece. The ban affects more than 1000 tonnes of European beef imported annually and 250 products. Milk, gelatine and tallow products will not be banned because of the extensive processing involved in their manufacture. The ban was imposed by the Australian and New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA).
ANZFA managing director Ian Lindemayer said: “Australia and New Zealand have one of the safest food supplies in the world and the current steps are intended to keep it that way. We have written to major retail organisations asking them to identify processed beef products from Europe and remove them from shelves as soon as possible.”
There are still concerns that fears of beef contamination may influence consumer behaviour. David Palmer, of Meat and Livestock Australia, suggested that Australians might turn from beef to other products in a bid to escape fears of infection with bovine spongiform encephalopath. His fears were echoed by New South Wales farmer, David Fearon, who claims that the Australian Government’s decision to ban the import of all European beef products is unnecessary, and may have a negative impact on the beef industry in Australia.
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By GlobalDataNo cases of BSE have been recorded in Australia.
