BSE, The French Defence
- November 29, 2001
This opinion was featured as a Talking Point in the December 14, 2001 issue of the Farmers Weekly
The 145 cases of BSE in Europe, reported in the eight months to August - the most recent data published, in supposedly healthy cattle destined for human consumption should be a concern to European consumers.
This same data revealed that two thirds of BSE cases in Europe, outside the UK, are being missed clinically and only diagnosed by the EU’s testing program.
The reason for this almost certainly relates to politics rather than veterinary practice. In Europe, BSE is irrationally, in a disease control context, treated as infectious and whole herds are slaughtered if a single animal is diagnosed. While compensation is provided, there must be a natural inclination to shade decisions where the threat is the dispatch of a whole herd.
This undoubtedly explains why detection of BSE in Europe has been such a challenge. But post mortem testing of all animal over 30 months of age may also be providing a false sense of security. If clinical observations have been fudged, how much easier must it be to take liberties with a process which require samples to be taken and sent to a laboratory for testing.
This may explain why French processors and retailers, with it would seem their government’s blessing, have now extended the import ban to beef from other EU member states. Paradoxically this may improve the prospect for the French lifting the ban on British beef imports.
France has progressively isolated itself from its European Union partners by unlawfully continuing to ban British beef imports. It is clearly not impressed by the initial ruling of the European Court of Justice that its actions are unlawful.
Armed with the political comfort of results of a producers’ survey which indicated that French consumers believed British food is the most unsafe in Europe, while food produced in France was of the highest quality, the French government indicated that it had no intention of accepting the court ruling.
While the implementation of a program in Britain to test on slaughter all cattle born over the 12 month after the absolute ban of feeding meat and bone meal in August 1996 may appear to serve academic rather than food safety purpose, the French could just choose to be convinced by it.
In light of their own experience the French may not be impressed by Britain’s past reliance on clinical diagnosis. But if the combination of both this and testing reveals a clean bill of health for cattle born after August 1996, it will be difficult for them to claim credibly that importing British beef presents a food safety hazard.
While credibility on this issue has not in the past seemed to have worried the French too much, having extended their beef embargo to other member states, they may be seeking some.
French farm minister Jean Glavany has gone on record as wanting to see the results of the British tests before making any move to lift the trade ban on British beef. Whether this means very much is open to question. But if the tests indicate no significant incidence of BSE, Glavany may prove good to his word and lift the British ban.
He could logically claim that as an absolute ban on feeding meat and bone meal was not implemented on a Europe wide basis until December 2000, so there continues to be a risk of importing BSE beef from other European countries. Thereby, he could continue to protect the French beef industry from outside competition for a few more years.
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