Brussels, 10/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - According to the conclusions to the Advocate General at the European Court of Justice in the case of a Dutch farmer and the Dutch Office for the Purchase and Sale of Foodstuffs (VVB), the Member State ordering the slaughter of cattle in an effort to combat BSE, must compensate the farmer under European Union (exceptional support measures) and not national rules. In 1996 during the mad cow crisis, the farmer, H. van den Bor brought a claim against the VVB over the amount of compensation due for the loss resulting from his obligation to slaughter calves purchased from Britain. The amount of compensation was first calculated according to national rules (integrated compensation), then modified in line with the purchasing price set at EUR 2.8 per kilo of live weight, co-financed by the Community at 70%. The Court believes that the retrospective application of the Community Regulation is justified.