United Kingdom-Abattoir rules relaxed.

UNITED KINGDOM. COMPROMISE ON ABATTOR CATTLE YARDS.

Meat processors will only have to segregate cattle into two streams in lairage, instead of the three streams proposed by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

The FSA reversed its decision after angry processors protested that the new rules introduced following the move to 48-month BSE age testing were causing chaos in abattoirs.

FSA spokesman James Healey said: "Following discussions with industry representatives, the FSA is now taking a pragmatic approach to the need for segregation of cattle in lairage.

On a case by case basis, The MHS will consider whether separation at 30 months is required in the lairage of abattoirs that are either BSE-testing at 48 months or handling 30-48 month cattle that do not require BSE testing.