Beef industry to carry some costs for BSE testing and disposal

SOME of the multi-million euro costs currently borne by the Department of Agriculture and Food for BSE testing and disposal of meat and bone meal are being transferred to the industry.

The provision in the department’s estimates followed a report by a Government-appointed committee highlighting areas where there is potential for spending cutbacks and opportunities for generating new revenues.

A number of the recommendations made by former Central Bank governor, Maurice O’Connell, former secretary general of the Department of Enterprise and Employment Kevin Bonner, and former Revenue Commissioners chairman, Dermot Quigley were embraced by the Government.