Press Release: Beef: Commission will formally adopt exceptional BSE-measures

Following the discussion in the EU's Management Committee for Beef and Veal, which comprises member state representatives and is chaired by the European Commission, the Commission will now formally adopt the different support measures for the beef sector: The 'purchase for destruction' scheme, the modalities for public intervention and the increase of the advances for the beef premia. In a bid to restore consumer confidence in beef and to tackle oversupply on the EU beef market as a result of reduced consumption the Commission will decide to start the “purchase for destruction scheme” for cattle older than 30 months, unless they tested BSE-negative, from 1 January 2001. The price paid to farmers for these animals, that will no longer be made available for human consumption, will be fixed on the basis of the market price in the Member States, according to the quality category of the meat concerned. In any case, the prices must be set at a level which guarantees the proper functioning of the destruction scheme. The EU budget will co-fund the expenditure at a flat-rate of 70%. In order to ensure that the animals concerned are not used for human consumption, animal feed or medical products, the carcasses will have to be stained and separately stored. The Commission will carry out spot-checks to ensure that the scheme is properly applied and controlled in the Member States. Following the decision of 4 December 2000 of the EU's Council of Farm Ministers, the low BSE-risk countries, namely Finland, Austria and Sweden, have the option of allowing animals aged over 30 months to be slaughtered for their national market without a BSE test. All the meat exports have to be BSE-tested. The scheme will now be formally adopted by the Commission.