The announcement that the BSE test age had been raised to 48 months showed that the European Union was open to amending regulations where a justifiable case for change has been made.

This was stated by Marian Harkin MEP when welcomed the decision which would eliminate charges currently being imposed unnecessarily for testing healthy cattle.

“Two years ago in the European Parliament I asked the EU Commissioner if they could justify maintaining the 30 months age limit when there was no evidence of BSE in cattle under 40 months of age and they indicated that a properly documented case showing the necessary science backed improvement in the national herd could lead to a change in the BSE regulation”, she said.

The Independent MEP acknowledged that the first priority of the Commission was eradication of BSE and protection of EU citizens and she welcomed the openness of the system which was prepared to amend regulations which were no longer justified by the facts.

“The decision to increase the minimum age for BSE testing is a good example of the value of representative organisations, public representatives and relevant government departments working together to make valid cases to change regulations which are unnecessary or excessively punitive on EU citizens”, Marian Harkin said.

Please Note: To view the Question and Answer on the European Parliament website, follow this link:- http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=CRE&reference=20070215&secondRef=ANN-01&language=EN&detail=H-2006-1069&query=QUESTION