Content area
Full Text
THE OVER-30-Months Scheme looks set to be scrapped by September 2005 with the Date Based Export Scheme to follow suit by November, FARMERS WEEKLY has learned.
However, the ban, which prevents meat from cattle over 30 months old entering the food chain, will only be lifted if a rigorous, and 100% accurate, BSE testing regime can be established beforehand.
Currently only about half of the OTM cattle slaughtered are tested for BSE.
But, the current system - even if it was simply expanded - is not sufficient to meet the requirements being laid down by the Food Standards Agency.
"This is not simply an additional test, it...