Volume 9: Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Part 2: Scotland
10. Chronological account of specific Scottish issues
Scotland and trade with the European Union

10.79 The emergence of BSE posed a substantial threat to UK international trade in beef, both with the other Member States of the EU (which accounted for 90 per cent of it) and with the rest of the world. ¹ Various measures, imposed by the EU, were introduced to regulate exports of live cattle and beef from the UK during 1989-96. ² Exports of pedigree cattle and high-quality beef were particularly important to the Scottish farming economy, and in 1989-90 there were discussions in mainland Scotland and the Orkney and Shetland Islands as to whether Scotland should apply for certain derogations from the restrictions to allow exports to continue. ³ The basis for this was that some pedigree breeds had not been affected by BSE. For example, in March 1990 no cases of BSE had been found in pedigree Galloway Cattle. The Galloway Cattle Society requested, via their MP, a meeting with Lord Sanderson to seek exclusion for pedigree Galloway cattle from the restrictions then in place. ⁴ Mr Rennie described DAFS' position on the question as follows:

Whilst we were disposed to be helpful, we were anxious to avoid any false implication that some beef was 'safer' than other beef; and we were also keenly aware of the reality of the UK's negotiating position on BSE issues. MAFF were not unsympathetic to the proposal, but did not want to open the issue formally with the [European] Commission without some assurances that other key Member States would not object. ⁵

10.80 However, many of these herds were subsequently affected by BSE, and it was concluded that although Scotland had a lower incidence of BSE than England and Wales, it would be difficult to justify a derogation. ⁶