January 30, 2007

NBA says beef exports to Europe at risk
 

Downright carelessness on the part of Scotland farmers when disposing of cows born before Aug 1, 1996 could threaten the continuation of beef exports to Europe, according to the National Beef Association.

Exports of beef resumed in May 2006, but one of the provisos was that no beef from animals born before Aug 1996 would be allowed to enter the food chain. These animals should be processed through the Older Cattle Disposal Scheme (OCDS) and rendered into meat-and-bone meal to be incinerated.

Exports have been building up since last May, but the trade has mostly been in cow beef, and Scotland still has to regain its lost market share.

However, the market could soon be closed once more, according to Duff Burrell, chairman of the National Beef Association.

He said the number of OCDS cattle turning up at abattoirs has been growing in spite of repeated warnings. This could invite an unwelcome response from the EU.

The EC has already been alerted because one carcase entered the food system towards the end of last year. UK traders had to do a recall to set things in place.

According to the NBA, the EC would be sending veterinary inspectors to the UK at some, as yet undisclosed, date in March to investigate export procedures.

Any ban on UK exports would mean a huge loss to the industry.

A ban was imposed earlier following an outbreak of BSE in UK cattle.