Press Release: BSE: Commission presents special market measures for beef

In the management committee for beef and veal of 5.3.01, the European Commission presented its proposal to introduce special market measures for cattle older than 30 months. Carcasses of animals which belong to categories not eligible for intervention purchases, which are more than 30 months of age and which have all been tested negatively for BSE shall be covered. The scheme will only apply in Member States which have demonstrated full testing capacity for cattle older than 30 months. In addition, the regime will only be applicable in those Member States which are faced with a weak market for beef. The special measures under the new scheme shall apply until the end of 2001. For those Member States without full testing capacity, the provisions of the 'purchase for destruction scheme' will remain in force until 30 June 2001, when compulsory testing comes into force. This is to prevent non BSE-tested meat from cattle over 30 month entering into the food chain.