Yesterday (28 December) saw a further two cases of BSE officially identified by the German authorities. The two new cases of BSE in Germany came in Lower Saxony and Bavaria.

While this is the first example of BSE in Lower Saxony, Bavaria has already discovered five cases. Federal finance minister Karl-Heinz Funke called for greater transparency in the meat production process and outlined a system of incentives to this end. Within the framework of the proposed system, operations will be given preference that can guarantee the highest level of quality and transparency. Funke admitted to shortcomings in the current fight against mad cow disease.

The first German case of BSE was discovered on 26 November in a four year-old cow in Schleswig-Holstein. In Austria, meanwhile, border officials blockaded a new shipment of banned German beef in a bid to minimize the risk of infected beef entering the Austrian food chain.