There has been a sharp drop in the consumption of beef throughout the European Union because of BSE. The EU's Agriculture Commissioner warned that the latest beef market indications were alarming. According to Franz Fischler, beef consumption is down by 27%. He warned that farm spending could explode unless policy changes are agreed. He also urged member states to take advantage of the so-called purchase for destruction scheme, which operates in Ireland. Farmers are paid to have their older cattle destroyed.
Earlier, Mr Fischler warned EU farm ministers who met in Brussels today that the BSE crisis gripping Europe is worse than thought. Mr Fischler said that the crisis was threatening to get worse this year unless member states take drastic measures. The ministers are debating proposals to extend the testing of cattle to younger animals and curb sales of T-bone steak.
Today marks the official start of a new chapter in the politics of EU agriculture. For the first time, a minister whose views differ from those of a majority of her EU colleagues will represent a major player at the European farm ministers table. Germany's Renate Kunast is from the Green party. She was appointed after a row over the mishandling of the BSE crisis forced the resignation of Karl-Heinz Funke. She supports organic farming. She has called for a general ban of antibiotics in pigs. But her first test is how she copes with the problems created by BSE.
The Health and Consumer Affairs Commissioner, David Byrne, is proposing a ban on mechanically recovered meat. Some member states say that the measure that all cattle under 30 months must be BSE tested or destroyed should be extended to animals between 24 and 30 months. It has also emerged that because of an extra subsidy from the Government, Irish farmers, selling their cattle for destruction, are being paid more than most of the EU counterparts.
