Fwd: PRO/AH> BSE? - UK (Northern Ireland)

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Subj: PRO/AH> BSE? - UK (Northern Ireland)

Date: 5/14/99 10:14:01 PM Eastern Daylight Time

From: promed@... (ProMED-mail)

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BSE? - UK (NORTHERN IRELAND)

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A ProMED-mail post

http://www.healthnet.org/programs/promed.html>

[see also:

BSE, beef export restrictions may be lifted - UK 980529194724]

Date: 14 May, 1999

Source: FSNET (edited)

The unique computer tracing system which won Northern Ireland its exemption

from the UK beef ban has, according to agriculture chiefs, been hit by a

fault. A database error leading to 19 animals from farms which had a

history of BSE being allowed onto the European market through the Export

Certified Herds Scheme.

Department of Agriculture officials were cited as saying the error was

minor and had now been rectified. But Government sources revealed there

were fears it could damage fragile confidence in Ulster beef.

In a statement, a spokesman for the Department of Agriculture was quoted

as saying, " The animals concerned were all below 30 months of age and all

were eligible for consumption in the UK. However, we accepted the stringent

terms laid down by the Export Certified Herds Scheme and these included our

statutory obligation to notify the European Commission and Member States if

these are not met even in the case of one animal. " The error was made in

the past 8 months and was under rigorous investigation. The spokesman said

none of the 19 animals involved were actually infected with BSE.

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