AGRICULTURE: BRITISH BEEF UNDER FRENCH MICROSCOPE.

The AFSSA is being consulted about a new draft decree on resuming imports and this should include all guarantees obtained by the French Government. The British method for applying the tests is featured in the annex to the agreement. Likely to last one or two weeks, this procedure is a precondition for France's official decision on the question, which will probably be made towards the end of December.Measures on top of DBES.In view of the importance of the problem and the technicalities involved, the AFSSA, whose opinion is offered by way of advice, is to convene a meeting of the 30 BSE specialists which prompted the agency to advice against lifting the ban. Certain extra guarantees, on which the lifting of the ban hinges, have been received to supplement the date-based export scheme (DBES) applied since 1998 in the United Kingdom. France has received guarantees about a meaningful BSE detection system which is to be set up a soon as possible (perhaps when the embargo is being lifted) and used for at least 12 months to monitor British cattle.BSE tests.The United Kingdom has given details about the application of the tests, three of which has so far been validated by the European Commission. The latter is to act before the end of the year to convene a working group under the aegis of the Standing Veterinary Committee, where national experts will examine the use of post-mortem tests in the UK and other Member States. The idea is for the Commission to reach a decision before March 31, 2000. The UK has to continue testing animals aged over 30 months, including those borne after August 1, 1996, with standard analysis methods. They have to be supplemented, however, without delay with at least two or three available post-mortem tests, as part of a pilot project. Every three months, the Commission will...