Press Release: Commission unveils ‘7-point plan’ to tackle beef crisis

On 13.2.01, the European Commission agreed an emergency plan to address the serious disruption to the beef and veal market resulting from the BSE crisis. By encouraging further extensification, the package aims to reduce beef production in the future. To further promote environmentally friendly farming methods, support for organic production is reinforced. The '7-point plan' includes an exemption to use set-aside land for organic farming, the provision that no more than 90 cattle per holding and 1.8 livestock units per hectare should be eligible for certain premia and a new 'Special Purchase Scheme', under which the Member States will be able to choose between storing or destroying beef from animals over 30 months old.