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Yes, we had mad cow disease too, France confesses
Ian Sparks in Paris06.11.08
FRENCH scientists issued a damning report today finally admitting the true scale of their country's mad cow disease epidemic.
The confession that BSE was rife in France in the early Nineties comes a decade after it banned British beef.
The study, ordered by a Paris judge, found not enough had been done to prevent the spread of BSE in France when it was first discovered there in 1986.
Scientists said the lives of nine French people who died between 1996 and 2006 from the human form, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, could have been saved if better precautions had been taken.
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, which causes cows' brains to become "spongy" and full of holes, was first identified in Britain in 1986. In 1988 scientists declared it was a disease that could be passed to humans, and measures were taken to stop it spreading.
But in France, farmers were only obliged to declare the illness from 1990.
The EU lifted a trade ban on British beef in 1999 - but France ignored the ruling and continued its own illegal ban for seven years, while claiming their herds were disease-free. It has never paid tens of millions of pounds in EU fines for persisting with the embargo. President Jacques Chirac said in 2003 that the only thing Britain had given European farming was mad cow disease.
Now the report has exposed the true situation in France at the time of the epidemic. Scientist Jean-Louis Thillier said: "There was enough scientific information for the government to have taken measures to protect the public from BSE in 1991. In fact it was not until 10 years later that adequate steps were taken.
"Why was there an embargo on British beef, but nothing being done here? Perhaps because the French government forgot its role in guaranteeing the safety of food products, and this neglect cost the lives of nine people."
Reader views (8)
This illustrates two issues: one, the British play by the rules even when other nations do not (especially as far as the EU is concerned); and two, I would wager that the UK govenrment has never reciprocated and responded to the French ban in kind, even though there is now clear evidence that they should do so.
The French, and most other countries, do what they want to do if they feel it is in their best interests to do so. The British do what they feel is right! Big difference.
- Michael J. Harman, San Diego, California
After having donated blood for 20 years in the UK, on moving to France over 5 years ago I am not allowed to give blood here, due to Mad cow disease in the UK hopefully perhaps they will change their minds .due to the shortage of blood here!!!!
- Phelps Robert, bussiere poitevine
The EU is French club with members, some of which are friends, and others tolerated. I have never, and will never, trust them.
- Crm, essex
Can someone remind me why we are throwing away 20 billion every year at this joke called the EU?
These profoundly corrupt French politicians, and yes they are worse than our own politicians, simply abuse the EU to gain the best for France. As opposed to the best for Europe, which was the original concept.
We are the only idiots who implement EU directives to the letter. Time to leave this unelected, unaccountable body and return our country to democracy.
- Frank, Home Counties, England
Perhaps we Brits, living in France will now be permitted to become blood donors. It was against the rules for a Brit to do so if he or she had lived in the UK during the 90's.
- Colin Macpherson, Gramat France
Chirac should be made to issue a full public apology or Sarkozy should apologise on his behalf. Whichever humiliates Chirac the most.
- Isabel, Woking
Farmers already new this as the French claim of NO cases was implausible.
There would always have been at least a number of cases.
- Steve, UK
Surprise surprise. The French are a law unto themselves and don't give a fig for the EU, just how much subsidy they can accrue from the system. Once again we are shown up for the mugs we are by being in the EU and by following blindly the letter of the EU law no matter how barmy or detrimental the rules are to our farmers, fishermen and populace.
- Squiz, Islington
