The BSE emergency in Lombardy

摘要

The 'White Paper on Food Safety' produced by the EU was addressed to public administrations with the aims of guaranteeing food safety. After the BSE crisis and with the present preoccupations about hormones, drug residues and genetically modified organisms in food, consumers are demanding safe food. Unclear and contradictory declarations by the authorities have undermined consumer confidence and have led to the total refusal of bovine meat by many consumers that has produced a severe crisis in the Lombardy animal production system. Collaboration between the Veterinary Service of the General Regional Health and Agriculture Directorates (D.G. Sanita and D.G. Agricoltura) has initiated a joint project to manage the BSE emergency based on careful inspections of welfare and health requirements at the farm level to recognize 'suspect animals'; the performance of diagnostic tests on all bovines older than 30 months at the slaughterhouse; and the appropriation of local funds for areas of bovine, ovine and caprine research.