EU/SWEDEN: Foot and mouth costs EU budget dear

EU Health Commissioner David Byrne said on Tuesday that the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Europe has already cost the EU budget €250m (US$225m). Byrne told a meeting of EU agriculture ministers in Sweden that he expected the final figure would be much higher. The figure includes the indirect costs due to the ban on EU meat imports which many countries have imposed because of the outbreak.

April 10, 2001

EU Health Commissioner David Byrne said on Tuesday that the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Europe has already cost the EU budget €250m (US$225m).

Byrne told a meeting of EU agriculture ministers in Sweden that he expected the final figure would be much higher. The figure includes the indirect costs due to the ban on EU meat imports which many countries have imposed because of the outbreak.