MAFF is set to add to the raft of measures already in place to protect the public from the dangers of BSE in cattle.

This week the ministry began consultation on new measure to control the spreading on land of waste water which has been used in rendering plants which process ruminant material.

Water could still be discharged to land but operators wishing to do so would have to take samples and keep detailed records to show the water was safe.

l Agriculture minister Nick Brown also announced this week that at least 6,500 British cattle would be tested for BSE under EU measures designed to control the spread of the disease.

The brains of thousands of cattle over thirty months old which are killed in transit, or on farms but are ineligible for the OTMS, will be tested during 2001.