抄録
This article examines the causes of the BSE crisis in Europe and reviews the administrative reform of the EU after the crisis. The European Union, which had privileged an economic interest of beef sector over other interests such as public health and food safety, had continued the policy of circulating beef and beef products from UK in the internal market until the British government announced a possible link between BSE and vCJD in March 1996.
Through an empirical analysis of the crisis, this article will illustrate that the development of the crisis was largely caused by the following factors. First, the system of collecting information concerning BSE was dominated by the UK government. The EU, therefore, couldn't get scientific information adequately. Second, bureaucratic politics inside the European Commission made it difficult to coordinate policies on the BSE issue across the various DGs. Third, valuebased norms and administrative culture in the Directorate-General for agriculture prevent it from thinking the BSE matter seriously. It devoted itself to protecting an interest of beef sector in Europe. Finally, lack of administrative resources which the Commission can make use of delayed the Commission dealing with the BSE matter.
After the Crisis, the EU initiated comprehensive institutional reform of EU administration in terms of public health and food safety. This reform is divided into four parts: the reorganization of DG for health and consumer protection, the enhancement of involvement of the European Parliament in the policy-making process, the improvement of transparency and openness concerning comitology procedure, and the establishment of independent regulatory agency, namely the European Food and Safety Authority. These reforms may improve the administrative system managing food safety and lead to enhancement of democratic legitimacy in this policy area, but a few points remain to be improved: the mechanism of policy coordination inside the Commission and the lack of administrative resources by which the Commission can accomplish its tasks and duties.
