Italy lifts French beef ban
its own tests sufficient to protect consumers from the risks of mad
cow disease, Associated...
Italy has lifted a ban on cattle imports from France after deeming its own tests sufficient to protect consumers from the risks of mad cow disease, Associated Press reports. The move involves French cattle more than 18 months old, which were banned in November at the outset of the mad cow scare, Health Ministry spokesman Enrico Artesi said Friday. The decision by Health Minister Umberto Veronesi followed pressure by the European Union, which considered the measures adopted by Italy too restrictive, the ministry said in a statement Thursday. The EU recently approved mandatory testing for cattle more than 30 month old in an attempt to reassure consumers over the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or mad cow disease. No cow is allowed to enter the food chain unless the test shows it is free of BSE. Italy had two cases in 1994 from cows imported from Britain. Two people in France and 80 in Britain have died from the human form of the disease.
