Spinal cord has been found in beef imported from Denmark into the UK. This is the first time that imported Danish beef has violated the EU-wide BSE controls in the UK.

Bovine spinal cord is classified as specified risk material (SRM) and is therefore among those parts of the animal most likely to contain BSE infectivity. Under European law, SRM must be removed immediately after slaughter, stained, and disposed of safely.



The discovery was made earlier this week in the neck vertebrae of two out of 158 forequarters of beef being unpacked at St Merryn Meat Ltd. (Victoria), Roche, which lies North-West of St Austell, Cornwall. The receiving company was not responsible for the problem. The beef came from Danish Crown, The Skive, Brarupsgade 6, 7800 Skive, Denmark. The remainder of the consignment has been voluntarily surrendered by Denmark Crown because there was no accompanying paperwork from the abattoir in Skive to indicate that the meat was from animals under 30 months of age. The whole consignment will be disposed of as SRM.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all


This violation has been raised with the Danish Chief Veterinary Officer, and with the European Commission. The Food Standards Agency will press for appropriate action to ensure that there is no recurrence at the abattoir concerned.



The Meat Hygiene Service and all local authorities – who have responsibility for inspecting beef imports – have been given the name of the Danish abattoir to add to the list of European abattoirs from which beef containing spinal cord has been imported into the UK. There have been only three confirmed cases of BSE in Denmark – two so far this year, and one last year.


NOTES FOR EDITORS




  1. Although this is the first instance in which spinal cord has been found in imported Danish beef, it is the 15th occasion since January this year when beef imported into the UK from other EU countries has been found to contain spinal cord. The other countries which have failed to abide by the BSE controls are:

    Germany (seven cases); Holland (two cases); Spain (two cases); Republic of Ireland (two cases) and Italy (one case).

    How well do you really know your competitors?

    Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

    Company Profile – free sample

    Thank you!

    Your download email will arrive shortly

    Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

    We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

    By GlobalData
    Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

BSE INCIDENCE (REPORTED CONFIRMED CASES) ACROSS EU COUNTRIES


(taken from the BSE Review website, www.bsereview.org.uk)







COUNTRY



2001



2000



1999




Austria



0



0



0




Belgium



9



9



3




Denmark



2



1



0




Finland



0



0



0




France



66



162



31




Germany



49



7



0




Greece



0



0



0




Ireland



45



145



91




Italy



10



0



0




Luxembourg



0



0



0




Netherlands



6



2



2




Portugal



34



142



170




Spain



41



5



0




Sweden



0



0



0




United Kingdom



162



1,337



2,281