§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what criteria determine whether the European Commission intervenes in respect of the problem of BSE and CJD in a member state. [109852]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 14 February 2000]: The European Commission has powers to take action in respect of BSE under Council Directives 89/662 and 90/425. When considering whether to take action, it acts in accordance with the precautionary principle of avoiding risk in order to protect human and animal health.