Scottish government confirms case of mad cow disease on farm in Aberdeenshire
The Scottish government has today confirmed a case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) on a farm in Aberdeenshire.
Movement restrictions have been put in place at the farm, while further investigations are carried out, the government said in a statement.
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Rural economy secretary Fergus Ewing said: “Following confirmation of a case of classical BSE in Aberdeenshire, I have activated the Scottish government’s response plan to protect our valuable farming industry, including establishing a precautionary movement ban being placed on the farm.”
BSE, also known as mad cow disease, can cause the fatal Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) in humans.
BSE devastated the British farming industry in the 1990s with more than four million cattle slaughtered to stop the spread of the disease.
The European Commission imposed an export ban on British beef in 1996 which was not lifted until 1999.
France continued to refuse to accept imports of British beef until 2002.
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China only lifted its ban on British beef earlier this year as part of a trade deal with an estimated value of £250m over five years.