EU PANEL REFUSES TO EASE BRITISH BEEF BAN, CITES `MAD COW' DISEASE FEARS.Byline: Mark Lawrence Mark H. Lawrence, is the principal trombonist of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. He was appointed to this position in 1974. Lawrence was educated at the University of Michigan and the Curtis Intitute of Music. His teachers have included Carlos Rivera, Allen H. Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. European Union European Union (EU), name given since the ratification (Nov., 1993) of the Treaty of European Union, or Maastricht Treaty, to the European Community veterinary experts turned down Britain's request Wednesday to relax an export ban on British beef imposed in response to the ``mad cow'' disease scare. Britain wants to resume exports of beef fat and gelatin gelatin or animal jelly, foodstuff obtained from connective tissue (found in hoofs, bones, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage) of vertebrate animals by the action of boiling water or dilute acid. made from boiled-down cattle carcasses. Those materials are widely used in products such as soap, cosmetics, glue, candy and ice cream. The European Union ban on all beef products was imposed March 27 as fear grew that humans could contract a deadly illness related to mad cow disease mad cow disease: see prion. mad cow disease or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) Fatal neurodegenerative disease of cattle. Symptoms include behavioral changes (e.g. , a brain-wasting cattle ailment ail·ment n. A physical or mental disorder, especially a mild illness. that has affected herds in Britain. Britain had hoped the EU veterinary committee would be swayed by the World Health Organizations's finding last week that beef-derived gelatin posed no risk to human health. ``The ban has not changed,'' EU agriculture spokesman Gerry Kiely said after a daylong meeting of senior veterinary officials from the 15 EU countries. Kiely said Wednesday's meeting showed a clear majority of EU nations want Britain to present a detailed plan to contain mad cow disease before they consider modifying the ban. ``The member-states are linking any easing of the ban to a clear control and eradication plan from Britain,'' Kiely said. Britain agreed last week to present a plan by the end of the month to slaughter some 4.7 million cattle at risk for the disease and impose other safeguards to protect public health. |
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