Brussels, 01/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - Bovine meat affected by bovine tuberculosis (bTB) deemed fit for consumption by the appropriate authorities in the United Kingdom was sold to Sodexo specialist catering services. The European Commission, however, believes there is no need for concern because this disease, which can be transmitted to animals, cannot be passed on to human beings. This statement was made on Monday 1 July by Frédéric Vincent, the spokesperson for Tonio Borg, Commissioner for Health.
As to whether the British authorities infringed EU legislation by marketing meat from diseased animals and whether the European Commission intends to investigate with a view possibly to launching infringement procedures, everything still remains vague. In reply to a question from a journalist, the spokesman explained that “it is up to the British authorities to sort out this problem”.
Under veterinary and food safety rules in force in the EU, “if an ante mortem examination demonstrates that an animal is contaminated, a post mortem examination will be carried out. The lungs of the animal will be removed and destroyed. The carcass will not enter the food chain. Tuberculosis, however, cannot be transmitted to human beings. The British ministry has provided assurances that animals put on the market have been inspected”, Vincent stated. (AN/transl.fl)