Recently introduced tests are identifying cases that would not have been detected previously. The improved passive surveillance as a result of heightened awareness. However, this position will be reviewed regularly in the light of the results of the intensified surveillance. The effective implementation of the recommendations repeatedly made by the SSC on completely banning ruminant MBM from cattle feed, sound rendering and SRM removal would eventually lead to conditions of optimal stability and minimal propagation risk. All these measures need to be simultaneously in place.
Careful control is essential.
Under these ideal conditions of optimal level of stability in the different countries, no additional measures would probably be needed with regard to international trade. However, as long as different stability levels exist amongst different countries, some trade restrictions might be justified temporarily. The decision on such temporary measures should be based not only on their immediate and longer-term risk for consumers and bovines but should also include an assessment of the level of implementation of the different BSE risk measures recommended by the SSC that determine the stability and BSE risk of the involved individual countries. The SSC at this stage does not consider the justifications provided so far by the 3 Member States as substantial enough to support the trade restrictions. In addition, possible alternative options as indicated in this opinion of the SSC have not been considered.