|
|
|
Australia is BSE-free: EU
24 Aug 2004
The European Union has given Australia the highest status of freedom from bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The European Food Safety Authority has confirmed that Australian cattle are highly unlikely to be infected, putting Australia on a par with just a handful of other countries, including New Zealand, that are deemed to be the safest from BSE.
The Federal Agriculture Minister, Warren Truss, said the EU authority's conclusion is welcome and consistent with the BSE risk assessments conducted by other major Australian beef markets. BSE has never been found in Australia's beef herd. Mr Truss said the nation's well-deserved and evidence-based reputation for being free of BSE is due to a range of stringent surveillance and quarantine requirements, as well as long-term bans on the importation of meat and bone meal.
The Age, 23/8/04.
|
|
