Britain should now be considered a “moderate risk” country according to international standards, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has recommended, a decision that should lead to a further liberalisation of restrictions on the sale of British beef and beef products.


EFSA’s Scientific Panel on Biological Hazards reached its conclusion by measuring UK government BSE data against a risk yardstick developed by the Office International des Épizooties (OIE), the world animal health organisation.


Separately, EFSA has concluded that beef cattle Costa Rica, El Salvador and Nicaragua have an increasing risk of being infected with BSE, even if this is currently “unlikely”.