ONE of the immediate consequences of the BSE crisis in March 1996 was a total ban on all sales of beef from cattle aged over 30 months.
The measure was designed to restore consumer confidence in beef, but it was only partially successful and there were concerns that beef carved off the bone could still be a vector of BSE, which might infect the human population with variant CJD.
Then in December 1997, on advice from the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee, the UK government said beef on the bone could not be sold from cattle aged over six months. The move was hugely unpopular with processors, butchers and leading catering establishments.
Indeed, Jim and Jo Sutherland, who run the Lodge Hotel, near Lauder in the Borders, defied that ban and continued to serve rib roasts. They were duly charged and ended up in Selkirk Sheriff Court - where the case was dismissed.
The ensuing controversy attracted worldwide interest and prompted the UK health authorities to have a major rethink. Eventually, in December 1999, sales of beef on the bone were permitted once more.
However, exports of British beef were not allowed to resume until May last year. As part of the arrangement, Brussels decreed that no beef could be sold on the bone from cattle aged over 24 months. Previously the limit throughout the rest of the EU had been 12 months. The UK government accepted this compromise as part of the cost of re-entering the export market, but on the understanding that it would be reviewed by the end of last year by the European Food Safety Agency.
No decision has so far been forthcoming and NFU Scotland and the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers (SAMW) have now written a stiff letter to Markus Kyprianou, the EU commissioner with responsibility for consumer safety, urging him to take action. Both organisations point out that almost half of the prime cattle sold in Scotland are aged between 24 months and 30 months at slaughter. This is causing problems, especially for butchers, who wish to sell beef on the bone.
It is argued that the current ruling is not based on established science and is having a serious impact on the Scottish and UK beef industries. The clear demand is that the EFSA amends the rules to allow beef on the bone to be sold from cattle aged up to 30 months at its next meeting in April.
Jim McLaren, president of NFU Scotland, said: "We are still lumbered with a tightened regulation, despite evidence to support a move back to 30 months. We cannot accept any more delays to a restriction which was a political fix in the first place. It is clearly distorting trade."
Allan Jess, president of the SAMW, said: "It is critical that our own ministers press for a resolution in Brussels, and we have written to them advising of the urgency.
"The major problem that this rule is causing just doesn't exist on the continent. In Europe they have a much lower age profile of cattle at slaughter and the move to 24 months was an improvement for them anyway.
"SAMW and NFUS are putting pressure on Brussels, but we need the UK government and the Scottish Executive to do the running on this issue as well. We have suffered enough procrastination and this must be made clear to Brussels."
A spokesperson for the Executive confirmed that it was well aware of the situation and has made representations on the subject. Similarly, the UK's Food Standards Agency has been in regular contact with the EFSA. The understanding is that the FSA will have no objections, should Brussels agree to raise the age limit to 30 months.
