Mr Crean said consumers could be "100 per cent certain that we won't be importing beef with BSE", is he insane? BSE can be confirmed only through examination of brain tissue obtained by biopsy or at autopsy, but a "probable case" of BSE can be diagnosed on the basis of clinical criteria developed in the United Kingdom. Is the brain or spinal tissue of every carcass been inspected before it's exported here? No, because it is cost prohibitive, instead brain and spinal tissue is removed, however a significant risk of infection still remains from nervous tissue contained within the meat itself from an infected animal. Variations and mutations in the human prion protein (PrP) gene affect disease susceptibility, PrP gene--codon 129 to the disease-associated form (PrPSc). However current research indicates that infection could be present in human beings, with ALL genotypes, for a substantial time before the clinical onset of symptoms, with incubation periods of 34-60 years depending on the genotype. Therefore it is NOT safe to consume meat from counties where BSE is present, as safe guards do not readily exist to identify infected meat.

excellent comments mike. how many times over the past 50 years have we heard about politicians being 100% certain. rudd was 100% certain about global warming now even though it's been renamed "climate change" he is not so sure. crean is going to fix this by having foriegn beef labeled. looks like consumers are in for a lot of reading. especially when manufacturers are very likely to blend australian and imported beef into the same product. we have been down this road so many times before and every time australian jobs have been lost.

Simons guarantees it. Now the first person to get BSE knows who to sue.

Spot on Mike. Mr Crean your spin on the matter is not only wrong but ethically reprehensible. You are focused on a trade issue; not a public health and safety issue and the very real concern about the Australian cattle herd having its first case of BSE. Just one case. Once we lose our clean and green reputation, we will have lost it forever. Competitors in other markets will make sure of that. The MLA needs to get out of government's pocket on this issue and begin defending the interests of the producers that pay its levy.

That what we get for voting in a vegetarian. How they must hate farmers as there seems no end to taking our rights and giving them to other interests. No fair shake of the source bottle. Maybe if we started to give big donations we would be better looked after,like TV stations, or leave and come back as Queue jumping refugees. What the **** is going on. There seems no end of stupidity and out of touch decisions being made and I think a grade 10 student would have better grasp on reality.

I want Crean to taste test all the meat entering our Country. Only then will his worthless guarentees mean anything. The people around the world that have been exposed to this terrible disease must be proud of the Australian Government. This will do to the Beef Industry what Bourkes Deregulation of the Wheat export system and former decisions on deregulating the Dairy Industry. It is easy to trace who Labor listens to and that is foreign big business. Especially thse in the US.

Trust him, this bloke and his party would not lie to us!

Review labeling laws? I believe I have heard this before! Just how much more treason do we stand from M.L.A. ?

The old commo himself. Trust him Tigerdicky? No more than I would a rabid dog or a reb back spider hiding in my boot!

Crean is a fool, always was, and always will be. Is he going to accept responsibility when his 100% guarantee proves to be as worthless as his word. The old joke is still true "when do you know a politician is lying? When her/his lips move."