Judgment urged on British role in BSE crisis

THE European Court of Justice should be asked to rule on British responsibility and financial liability for damage to the EU's beef industry, according to a European parliament interim report on the handling of the BSE crisis.

While finding that the British Government failed negligently to control the spread of the disease, resulting in "colossal losses" throughout the EU, the report also criticises the Commission's "minimalistic" approach and the cumbersome procedures of the Council of Ministers.

The recommendations are part of an interim working document produced by the rapporteur to the Parliament's inquiry into the response of Community institutions to the crisis. The rapporteur of the inquiry established in July is Mr Manuel Medina, the leader of the Spanish Socialist group and an international lawyer.

The committee was convened after reports that Commission officials had sought to play down discussion of the BSE crisis.

It has been hearing evidence from senior Commission officials and has sought unsuccessfully so far to call the British Agriculture Secretary, Mr Douglas Hogg, as a witness.

Mr Medina says that what appears most serious about Britain's performance is that it had been equipped with the legal means and scientific assessment of the problem since the onset of the disease. But the authorities failed to implement their own regulations.