Romanian MEP Daniel Buda (PPE) has asked the European Commission what measures it intends to take to prevent health risks and maintain confidence in the food chain after an atypical case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was confirmed in Ireland, warning that trade partners have already reacted, including South Korea suspending beef imports.
The parliamentary question, submitted on 11 June 2026 under Rule 144, targets three areas: immediate actions to limit the impact on European beef exports and avoid disproportionate third-country reactions; prioritised prevention and control measures given the lack of an effective treatment or widely available vaccine for BSE; and possible stepped-up investments in research and innovation, including development of a vaccine or advanced diagnostic methods.
Buda, a member of the centre-right European People's Party, frames the situation as raising serious concerns for market stability and consumer and external partner confidence. The question does not propose specific numerical targets or deadlines but calls on the Commission to outline its toolbox for managing both health and trade risks.
The atypical BSE case, detected in Ireland, is a rare form of the disease that can occur spontaneously in older cattle and is not linked to contaminated feed, unlike the classical BSE epidemic of the 1990s. However, any BSE confirmation triggers strict EU surveillance rules and can prompt import bans from third countries, as seen with South Korea's suspension.
The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. Its answer will signal whether it plans to step up research funding, tighten surveillance protocols, or engage diplomatically with trading partners to limit economic fallout. The question highlights a tension between maintaining rigorous food safety standards and protecting the competitiveness of the EU beef sector, which exported over €3 billion worth of beef in 2025.
Stakeholders directly affected include EU beef producers, who face potential export losses; national veterinary authorities in Ireland and other member states, which must enforce surveillance and reporting; third-country importers and consumers, whose confidence may be shaken; and EU research bodies, which could see increased funding for prion disease studies.