The Food Standards Agency welcomes todays Agriculture Council decision to step up protection measures across Europe for consumers against BSE.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Premium Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more


The measures include:



  • the ban on cattle over thirty months old entering the food chain unless they have tested negative for BSE;
  • a temporary ban on the feeding of meat and bonemeal to farm animals from 1 January 2001;
  • all bovine intestines to be classified as specified risk material (SRM) and therefore removed at slaughter.

Member states also agreed to speed up moves to implement comprehensive labelling for beef and beef products.


Commenting on the Council’s decision, Food Standards Agency Chairman, Sir John Krebs, said today:


“The Agriculture Council’s decision to introduce further controls against BSE across Europe is an important step in improving protection for the UK consumer. It is essential that these measures are implemented as quickly as possible and that they are fully and effectively enforced.

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.

“These moves bring other member states closer to the consumer protection measures in place in the UK and to the Agency’s recommendations arising from our current review of BSE controls.


“The UK ban on meat from cattle over thirty months entering the food chain needs to be maintained as an extra measure of protection for the UK consumer. Initial findings from increased local authority enforcement activity on imports show an encouraging level of compliance.”


France has deferred implementing its unilateral ban on sale of beef on the backbone – T-bone steak – pending further assessment of the risk by the EU’s Scientific Steering Committee. Following a meeting with French officials and the new measures agreed by the Agriculture Council, the Food Standards Agency has decided that no additional measures are currently needed in the UK to protect consumers from beef imports from France and other European countries.


A SEAC sub-group met today to look at risk assessment on imported beef and beef products. The group will report back to the whole SEAC committee.