Byrne regrets belated anti-BSE measures

Ireland's EU Health Commissioner David Byrne has expressed his "very great regret" that a determined and concerted effort to tackle the BSE crisis has taken so long to emerge.

Commissioner Byrne was speaking as national governments were ordered by the Commission to provide monthly updates on how their anti-BSE measures are progressing.

He said the reports had been "invaluable" in ensuring proper implementation of measures.

Until now, only Britain and Portugal, who have had wider outbreaks of the disease than most other EU states, had to give such reports.