Reassurance is needed – and fast

It is no time to be spreading needless panic, but there can be little doubt that the identification of so-called mad cow disease on a Scottish farm will have sparked some alarm.

The outbreak of the late 80s, which peaked in the early 90s, is unlikely to ever be forgotten by many cattle farmers or, indeed, consumers.

Images of then agriculture minister John Gummer insisting British beef was perfectly safe while attempting to encourage his four-year-old daughter to eat a burger remains one of the most memorable political clips of the era.

There have been cases of BSE since, but never again on such a dramatic scale.

The case announced yesterday – the first in Scotland for a decade – was discovered during routine testing.

If it is possible to see a silver lining, it is surely that procedures and checks are being properly carried out.

Early identification could yet prove to be vital and it is to be hoped this proves to be an isolated case.

With investigations at an early stage, experts have said it is too soon to say whether or not the discovery can be described as significant.

However, the news is certain to cause some understandable concern – the calls for “speedy and effective” measures to reassure and protect the farming industry must now be heeded.