Comment on BSE case

Martin Morgan, Executive Manager, Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers, said: “Today’s announcement is clearly disappointing for the whole Scottish beef industry. While this one isolated case does not pose any health risks, it returns our international trading status in relation to BSE to controlled risk (CR), the same ranking as already applies in England and Wales. Member companies are already taking the necessary action to direct all SRM items to the appropriate disposal channels. The fact that both France and Ireland went through exactly the same return to CR status as we are facing today, also due to isolated BSE cases, means that we are not entering unchartered waters in terms of the European industry. We remain extremely upbeat about the Scottish beef industry, therefore, and our ability to compete strongly in the global meat market.”