The Politics Of Bse

The Politics of BSE Richard Packer The Politics of BSE This page intentionally left blank The Politics of BSE Richard Packer Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF), 1993–2000 © Richard Packer 2006 All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with written permission or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, or under the terms of any licence permitting limited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4LP. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. The author has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. First published 2006 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS and 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010 Companies and representatives throughout the world. PALGRAVE MACMILLAN is the global academic imprint of the Palgrave Macmillan division of St. Martin’s Press, LLC and of Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. Macmillan® is a registered trademark in the United States, United Kingdom and other countries. Palgrave is a registered trademark in the European Union and other countries. ISBN-13: 978–1–4039–8529–3 ISBN-10: 1–4039–8529–4 This book is printed on paper suitable for recycling and made from fully managed and sustained forest sources. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 15 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 Printed and bound in Great Britain by Antony Rowe Ltd, Chippenham and Eastbourne Contents List of Figures and Tables viii List of Abbreviations ix Chronology xi Introduction 1 1 The Cattle and Ancillary Industries Agriculture in Britain The animal feed sector Slaughterhouses The rendering industry Head-boning plants Mechanically recovered meat (MRM) Knackers and hunt kennels Gelatine Other industries Consumers 7 7 8 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 12 2 14 14 14 20 Science and Research Introduction Advances up to 1986 The current theory 3 Slaughterhouses Public attitudes The state of the UK slaughterhouse sector in the 1980s/early 1990s The decision to establish a national meat hygiene service The putting in place of the MHS Assessing the reasons for support for and opposition to the MHS 23 23 23 27 28 30 4 33 33 36 A Chronicle of Events until 20 March 1996 The period up to early 1988 1988: first policy responses 1988 onwards: independent scientific advice to government; the Southwood Committee, the Tyrrell Committee and SEAC 1989: the decision to impose the human SBO ban Late 1989 to early 1990: pressure for an animal SBO ban Other developments in 1990 Late 1990: new evidence leads to an animal SBO ban Taking stock: the protective measures in place from Autumn 1990 v 41 50 55 58 64 66 <