FOOD SAFETY: EFSA SAYS UK POSES A 'M0DERATE RISK' OF BSE

摘要

The risk of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in the United Kingdom is moderate and comparable to that of other EU Member States: that is the recently-released Opinion of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). This follows a Commission request for an evaluation of the animal disease, which dominated UK headlines just a few years ago. The EFSA Scientific Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ) thus concluded that the UK will, according to World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) standards, reach the threshold to be considered as a "BSE moderate risk country" before December 2004. English beef is clearly in a position to regain its standing in Europe; but it is ultimately for the European Commission to decide whether to reassign the UK to the"moderate risk" public health category.