EU APPROVES PLAN TO SLAUGHTER BRITISH COWS.

Byline: Associated Press

The European Union approved a plan early today to destroy millions of British cows in an effort to stamp out ``mad cow disease'' and restore public trust in beef.

``The entire document has now been agreed,'' said Ivan Yates, Ireland's farm minister, after almost 40 hours of talks here.

EU farm ministers agreed Britain and the EU will split 30-70 the huge cost of compensating farmers for livestock lost in the mass slaughter. The deal is expected to cost the EU about $400 million a year.

Under the plan, Britain will destroy some 15,000 older cattle every week over six years, a total of 4.7 million animals. Many of those to be killed are milking cows, used for low-grade meat after they stop producing milk.

Older cattle are considered most at risk for carrying mad cow disease, a brain-wasting disorder formally known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Britain has until the end of April to prepare a report on a selective cull of younger animals that may have been exposed to the brain-wasting ailment.

Meanwhile, the global ban on British beef products continues. Britain also failed to get a specific date from the other 14 EU nations on when that ban would be lifted.

``The ban stays in place,'' Yates told reporters as he left the meeting.

The ministers worked until just before dawn Wednesday, on the third day of marathon talks, trying to iron out the final details of a package aimed at convincing consumers beef is safe to eat.

``This does provide both consumers and producers . . . with the necessary reassurances about European beef,'' Yates said.

It demands Britain destroy all cattle over 30 months old and incinerate the carcasses rather than sell them for meat, as is the normal practice.

``These carcasses shall be destroyed and disposed of in a safe manner,'' said a draft of the EU plan. A full text of the final document was not immediately available.

In return, Britain demanded the EU lift a global ban on all exports from Britain of cattle, beef and beef products. The ban was imposed last week to contain the crisis and keep up consumer confidence in continental beef supplies.

Other EU nations refused to lift the ban until Britain takes strong measures to contain mad cow disease. Instead they pledged to reconsider the ban within six weeks in light of the slaughter policy and other safeguards.

The new EU proposal would also label beef to show its country of origin; tighten a ban on feeding animal entrails to cattle, a practice blamed for spreading mad cow disease; intensify health checks on British herds; and increase funding for research into mad cow disease.

Officials said a final decision on aiding other EU members members affected by mad cow disease would be taken at a later meeting. France, the Netherlands and others want help with the slaughter of a relatively small number of cattle. Other nations have been hit by the fall in beef sales.