Volume 10: Economic Impact and International Trade
4. Where did the economic consequences of BSE finally fall?
Businesses which benefited

4.29 There may have been some sectors and parts of the economy that actually benefited from the BSE epidemic. ¹ There is evidence of growing demand for poultry and to a lesser extent pigmeat over the period 1986-96. In so far as this demand was boosted by a fall in demand for beef brought about by BSE consumer concerns, then there will have been a positive substitution effect in these sectors - particularly for farmers. However, we are unable to quantify to what extent there were any substitution effects in other related sectors and businesses.

4.30 The growth in additional requirements for quality systems and inspection may have led to some positive economic benefits among firms supplying such services. However, we are unable to quantify these effects.