Easing of UK beef controls

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) yesterday advised the UK government that the country has developed an effective system to test cattle aged over 30 months for BSE before they enter the food chain. The government will now decide whether to relax the safety rules, allowing older cattle to be sold on the market for food.

 

The rule change brings the UK into line with the rest of the EU, where a testing system for cattle over thirty-months-old has been in operation since 2001. Release of extra cattle for food consumption will be important for the EU market. For the first time in 20 years beef and veal consumption surpassed EU production in 2003 and is expected to grow further by 2012, according to a recent report by the European Commission. It forecasts beef and veal production will decrease to around 7.6m tonnes by 2012, in line with the structural reduction of the bloc's dairy herd and the impact of the introduction of the single farm payment. A tight domestic supply and a steady demand means food processors will have to rely on more imports entering at full duty, notably from South America. EU food processors margins are being substantially hurt by the rising cost of meat supplies and other inputs this year.The EU is also considering relaxing restrictions on UK beef.