The disease had a huge impact on the beef industry over the past 15 years. Fears that eating contaminated meat could affect people were confirmed a decade ago when BSE was linked to a human form of the disease, variant CJD.

A recent report suggested that four people in the Republic have died from new variant CJD in the past decade. Some of them had lived abroad for long periods and may have become infected here.

However, meat exports have recovered from the crisis. The Government here introduced a range of measures to reassure consumers and protect important export outlets. One of the most costly measures was the slaughter of an entire herd when even one animal contracted the disease.

Source: RTE NEWS