BSE ban on older cattle dropped
UK - The nine-year ban on the human consumption of beef produced from cattle aged over 30 months is being lifted, the government has announced. The ban was imposed after the outbreak of BSE or "mad cow disease". Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett is accepting advice from the Food Standards Agency that it is safe to end the Over Thirty Months rule. From 7 November, older cattle will be allowed into the human food chain if they test negative for the disease. But UK cattle born before 1 August 1996 will continue to be excluded from the food chain.Source: BBC