Higher age for BSE cattle tests will mean savings of €8m, says Smith

A NEW higher age for BSE cattle tests will deliver significant savings to farmers, Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister Brendan Smith declared yesterday.

He confirmed the minimum age for BSE testing of both animals slaughtered for human consumption as well as emergency slaughtered and fallen animals was increased to 48 months on January 1.

Mr Smith said farmers currently have to pay for the testing of animals over 30 months, but the number of cattle to be tested is now estimated to fall by about 400,000 a year.