Tougher BSE measures

The EU governments have agreed to toughen measures put in place to combat the spread of BSE. There is now an EU-wide ban on feeding meat-based meal to all farm animals. The deal was made in spite of opposition from Germany and Finland. While Germany wants tougher controls, to include a ban on animal fats in feed, they thought the agreement went too far. So does Finland, where there have been no cases of BSE so far. Agreement was reached after some countries argued successfully that the ban should not extend to the feeding of fishmeal to pigs and poultry which had initially been included by the EU executive. No decision has been taken on whether the hides of slaughtered animals because of the crisis will be processed or incinerated. All cattle over the age of 30 months will now be excluded from the food chain unless tested to prove they are free of BSE.