DATE=12/01/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-269924

TITLE=E-U / EASTERN EUROPE / MAD COW DISEASE (L-ONLY)

BYLINE=STEFAN BOS

DATELINE=BUDAPEST

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The European Union's commissioner for agriculture, Franz Fischler, has urged Eastern European countries not to undermine bilateral relations by banning E-U beef following new outbreaks of "mad cow" disease in Western Europe. Stefan Bos reports from Budapest, where Mr. Fischler was meeting with Hungarian officials.

TEXT: Speaking after his talks with government officials in Budapest, E-U Commissioner Franz Fischler said he was especially concerned that several prospective member states of the European Union, including the Czech Republic, have banned or partially suspended imports of meat products from the E-U.

On Friday, the Czech Republic imposed a ban on all beef imports from E-U countries where cases of "mad cow" disease were detected. That means, effective immediately, the Prague government will no longer permit beef imports from France, England, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium or Spain - all the countries that have reported at least one case of the disease.

E-U Commissioner Fischler criticized Prague's move as unfair, and suggested that it could set a bad precedent for other countries in the region. He says the E-U has already taken precautions to prevent further outbreaks of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (or B-S-E) - the so-called "mad cow" disease, which has been linked to fatal nervous-system ailments in humans.

/// FISCHLER ACT ///

Let me make it clear that such a ban is not justified because we think that we have enough measures in place. What we are doing at present is more related to the necessity of [restoring] consumer confidence, not that [because] there is a real health risk.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Fischler added that E-U ministers are meeting on Monday to discuss banning all sales of beef from cattle older than 30 months, unless they have been previously tested for the disease. In addition, Mr. Fischler said that E-U will also consider recommendations to eliminate meat and bone meal in animal feed in all its member states.

The European agriculture commissioner made it clear that future E-U member states will also have to accept similar restrictions. (Signed)

NEB/SJB/KL/WTW