Category one, which contains specified risk material, was implicated in the spread of BSE.

Of course I understand that this is necessary for beef to prevent the spread of BSE.

We supported the resolution calling on the Commission to take speedy and effective measures to prevent the spread of BSE.

The possible spread of BSE from ruminants to other food animals, even To pets and human beings, is a typical case in point.

In 1997, FDA published a final regulation designed to prevent the spread of BSE through animal feed.

Feeding of MBM to cattle is thought to have been responsible for the spread of BSE (mad cow disease).

The European Union announces that it has lifted a worldwide ban on the export of British beef introduced in 1996 to prevent the spread of BSE (Mad Cow Disease).

Obviously for the average electrician, stockbroker, or humanities-trained academic to be laying down the law un the value of a human blood substitute from cows or the spread of BSE would, as things stand, be foolish.

Furthermore, let us suppose that it becomes established, to the satisfaction of most experts, that there is a definite if slight possibility of the spread of BSE to human beings, similar decisions will remain to be made.

Together with the preventive steps adopted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, FDA's animal feed rule has erected a firewall that has protected our country against the spread of BSE within our cattle herd.

Following this decision, the United Kingdom adopted a series of measures to eradicate and prevent the spread of BSE throughout its territory, and the Commission has been monitoring the implementation of these measures through repeated inspections.

Because, Mr President, that is the grim length of time which the scientists have said will be necessary to verify the effects of the possible spread of BSE, through Creutzfeld-Jacob disease, to thousands and thousands of European citizens - not just the British!

The spread of BSE among the cattle population has now decimated affected herds and ruined the cattle industry throughout Europe, consequences in themselves extremely serious, but nevertheless out of proportion with the threat on human health if contamination of man from the meat of sick animals is confirmed.

For this reason, the creation of a uniform legal basis for controlling and preventing the spread of BSE and scrapie is paramount and there is still, as other speakers have suggested, a lack of consistency in relation to the application of the regulations within individual Member States.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the European Parliament has decided to deal in this session with the problems facing the European Union now that the spread of BSE has thrown the whole beef sector into crisis, with all the producers in the Member States suffering serious losses.