Beef: Premature hopes

Meat product manufacturers seem likely to face a long wait before extra beef is allowed into the market through a relaxation of the cattle culling age limit under the anti-BSE Over Thirty Month Scheme. Some buyers and producers had hoped the European Commission beef management committee would support an easing of the ban on older beasts entering the food chain at its September 15 meeting, but the subject was not discussed. Brussels insiders say a change in the rules would be fiercely opposed on the continent, and the suggestion is regarded as premature within British regulatory authorities including the Food Standards Agency. {{MEAT }}