2001R0999 — EN — 20.10.2008 — 030.001

This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents

Amended by:





Amended by:









▼B

REGULATION (EC) No 999/2001 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

of 22 May 2001

laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies







THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 152(4)(b) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ( 1 ), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee ( 2 ), Having consulted the Committee of the Regions, Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty ( 3 ), Whereas: (1) Several distinct transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) have for a number of years been recognised as occurring separately in humans and animals. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was first recognised in bovine animals in 1986 and in the following years was recognised as occurring in other species of animal. A new variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) was described in 1996. Evidence continues to grow of the similarity between the BSE agent and that of the new variant of Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease. (2) Since 1990 the Community has adopted a series of measures to protect human and animal health from the risk of BSE. Those measures have been based on the safeguard provisions of Directives on animal-health measures. It is appropriate, in view of the magnitude of the risk posed to human and animal health by certain TSEs, to adopt specific rules for their prevention, control and eradication. (3) This Regulation directly concerns public health and is relevant to the functioning of the internal market. It covers products which are included in Annex I to the Treaty as well as products which are not. Consequently, it is appropriate to choose Article 152(4)(b) of the Treaty as the legal basis. (4) The Commission has obtained scientific opinions, in particular from the Scientific Steering Committee and the Scientific Committee on Veterinary Measures relating to Public Health, on several aspects of TSEs. Those opinions include advice on measures to reduce the potential risk for humans and animals resulting from exposure to infected animal products. (5) These rules should apply to the production and placing on the market of live animals and products of animal origin. However, it is not necessary for them to apply to cosmetic or medicinal products, medical devices or their starting materials or intermediate products, for which other specific rules, in particular on the non-use of specified risk material, apply. Nor should they apply to products of animal origin which do not pose a risk to animal or human health since they are intended for purposes other than the production of food, feed or fertiliser. It is appropriate to ensure that products of animal origin excluded from the scope of this Regulation are kept separate from those covered by it unless they meet at least the same health standards as the latter. (6) Provision should be made for safeguard measures to be taken by the Commission in cases where a risk from a TSE has not been adequately addressed by the competent authority of a Member State or third country. (7) A procedure should be established for the determination of the epidemiological status of a Member State, a third country and of one of their regions, hereinafter referred to as ‘countries or regions’ with respect to BSE, on the basis of the incident propagation and human exposure risk, using information available. Member States and third countries which choose not to apply for their status to be determined should be classified in a category by the Commission on the basis of all the information available to it. (8) Member States should institute education programmes for those involved in the prevention and control of TSEs, as well as for veterinarians, farmers and workers involved in the transportation, marketing and slaughter of farm animals. Whereas: ▼M30 (8a) The feeding to non-ruminants of certain processed animal proteins originating from non-ruminants should be allowed taking into account the prohibition on intra-species recycling as laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 October 2002 laying down health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption ( 4 ) and the control aspects in particular linked to the differentiation of processed animal proteins specific to certain species as laid down in the Communication on the TSE Road map adopted by the Commission on 15 July 2005. ▼B (9) Member States should carry out an annual programme for monitoring BSE and scrapie and should inform the Commission and the other Member States of the results and of the emergence of any other TSE. (10) Certain ruminant tissues should be designated as specified risk material on the basis of the pathogenesis of TSEs and the epidemiological status of the country or region of origin or residence of the animal concerned. The specified risk material should be removed and disposed of in a manner which avoids any risk to human or animal health. In particular, it should not be placed on the market to be used in the production of food, feed or fertiliser. However, provision should be made for an equivalent level of health protection by means of a screening test for TSEs carried out on individual animals as soon as it has been fully validated. Slaughter techniques presenting a risk of causing brain material to contaminate other tissues should not be permitted in countries or regions other than those presenting the lowest risk of BSE. (11) Measures should be taken to prevent the transmission of TSEs to humans or animals by prohibiting the feeding of certain categories of animal protein to certain categories of animal, and by prohibiting the use of certain ruminant materials in food. Those prohibitions should be proportionate to the risks involved. ▼M30 (11a) In its resolution of 28 October 2004 ( 5 ), the European Parliament expressed concerns about feeding animal proteins to ruminants as they do not form part of the natural nutrition of adult cattle. In the wake of the BSE crisis and the foot-and-mouth disease crisis it has increasingly become accepted that the best way to ensure human and animal health is to keep and nourish animals in a way that respects the particularities of each species. Pursuant to the precautionary principle and in keeping with the natural diet and living conditions of ruminants, it is therefore necessary to maintain the prohibition on the feeding of animal proteins to ruminants in forms not normally constituting part of their natural diet. (11b) Mechanically separated meat is obtained by removing meat from bones in such a way that the muscle fibre structure is destroyed or modified. It can contain parts of the bones and the periosteum (bone skin). Thus, mechanically separated meat is not comparable with regular meat. Consequently its use for human consumption should be reviewed. ▼B (12) The suspected presence of any TSE in any animal should be notified to the competent authority, which should immediately take all appropriate measures, including placing the suspect animal under movement restrictions while awaiting the results of the investigation or having it slaughtered under official supervision. If the competent authority cannot exclude the possibility of a TSE, it should have the appropriate investigations carried out and should keep the carcasse under official supervision until a diagnosis has been made. (13) In the event of official confirmation of the presence of a TSE, the competent authority should take all the necessary measures, including having the carcasse destroyed, carrying out an investigation in order to identify all animals at risk and placing movement restrictions on the animals and the products of animal origin identified as such. Owners should be compensated, as soon as possible, for the loss of animals and products of animal origin destroyed pursuant to this Regulation. (14) Member States should draw up contingency plans for the national measures to be implemented in the event of an outbreak of BSE. Those plans should be approved by the Commission. Provision should be made for extending this provision to TSEs other than BSE. (15) Provisions should be laid down covering the placing on the market of certain live animals and products of animal origin. Existing Community rules on the identification and registration of bovine animals provide for a system enabling the animals to be traced back to the dam and herd of origin in accordance with international standards. Equivalent guarantees should be provided for bovine animals imported from third countries. The animals and products of animal origin covered by Community rules, moving in intra-Community trade or imported from third countries, should be accompanied by the certificates required by the said rules, supplemented as appropriate in accordance with this Regulation. (16) The placing on the market of certain products of animal origin derived from bovine animals in high risk regions should be prohibited. However, that prohibition should not apply to certain products of animal origin produced under controlled conditions from animals which can be demonstrated not to pose a high risk of infection with a TSE. (17) It is necessary, in order to ensure that the rules concerning the prevention, control and eradication of TSEs are observed, for samples to be taken for laboratory testing on the basis of an established protocol which would give a full epidemiological picture of the situation as regards TSE. In order to guarantee uniform testing procedures and results, national and Community Reference Laboratories and reliable scientific methods, including rapid tests specifically for TSEs, should be established. Rapid tests should be used as far as possible. (18) Community inspections should be carried out in the Member States in order to ensure uniform implementation of the requirements concerning the prevention, control and eradication of TSEs and provision should also be made for the implementation of audit procedures. In order to ensure that guarantees equivalent to those applied by the Community are provided by third countries upon import into the Community of live animals and products of animal origin, Community on-the-spot inspections and audits should be carried out in order to verify that the import conditions are met by exporting third countries. (19) Trade measures for TSEs should be based on international standards, guidelines or recommendations, where they exist. However, scientifically justified measures resulting in a higher level of health protection may be adopted if measures based on the relevant international standards, guidelines or recommendations would not achieve the appropriate level of health protection. (20) This Regulation should be re-examined as new scientific information becomes available. (21) The necessary transitional measures in particular for regulating the use of specified risk material should be provided for in the framework of this Regulation. (22) The measures necessary for the implementation of this Regulation should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedure for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission ( 6 ). (23) In order to implement this Regulation, procedures should be laid down establishing close and effective cooperation between the Commission and the Member States within the Standing Veterinary Committee, the Standing Committee on Feedingstuffs, and the Standing Committee on Foodstuffs. (24) Given that the provisions for the implementation of this Regulation are general measures within the meaning of Article 2 of Decision 1999/468/EC, they should be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure laid down in Article 5 of that Decision, HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:







CHAPTER I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1

Scope

1. This Regulation lays down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in animals. It shall apply to the production and placing on the market of live animals and products of animal origin and in certain specific cases to exports thereof.

2. This Regulation shall not apply to:

(a) cosmetic or medicinal products or medical devices, or to their starting materials or intermediate products;

(b) products which are not intended for use in human food, animal feed or fertilisers, or to their starting materials or intermediate products;

(c) products of animal origin intended for exhibition, teaching, scientific research, special studies or analysis, provided those products are not eventually consumed or used by humans or by animals other than those kept for the research projects concerned;

(d) live animals used in or intended for research.

Article 2

Separation of live animals and of products of animal origin

In order to avoid cross-contamination or substitution between the live animals or of the products of animal origin referred to in Article 1(1) and the products of animal origin referred to in Article 1(2)(a), (b) and (c), or the live animals referred to in Article 1(2)(d), they shall be kept separate at all times unless such live animals or products of animal origin are produced under at least the same conditions of health protection in respect of TSEs.

Rules for the implementation of this Article shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2).

Article 3

Definitions

1. For the purposes of this Regulation the following definitions shall apply:

(a) TSEs: all transmissible spongiform encephalopathies with the exception of those occurring in humans;

(b) placing on the market: any operation the purpose of which is to sell live animals or products of animal origin covered by this Regulation to a third party in the Community, or any other form of supply against payment or free of charge to such a third party or storage with a view to supply to such a third party;

(c) products of animal origin: any product derived from or containing a product derived from any animal covered by the provisions of Directive 89/662/EEC ( 7 ) or Directive 90/425/EEC ( 8 );

(d) starting materials: raw materials or any other product of animal origin out of which, or with the help of which, the products referred to in Article 1(2)(a) and (b) are produced;

(e) competent authority: the central authority of a Member State competent to ensure compliance with the requirements of this Regulation or any authority to which that central authority has delegated that competence, in particular for the control of feedingstuffs; it shall also include, where appropriate, the corresponding authority of a third country;

(f) category: one of the classification categories referred to in Chapter C of Annex II;

(g) specified risk material: the tissues specified in Annex V; unless otherwise indicated, it does not include products containing or derived from those tissues;

(h) animal suspected of being infected by a TSE: live, slaughtered or dead animals, which show or have shown neurological or behavioural disorders or a progressive deterioration of the general condition linked to impairment of the central nervous system and for which the information gathered on the basis of a clinical examination, response to treatment, a post-mortem examination or an ante or post-mortem laboratory analysis do not allow an alternative diagnosis to be established. Bovine spongiform encephalopathies (BSE) shall be suspected in bovine animals which have produced a positive result from a rapid test specifically for BSE;

(i) holding: any place in which animals covered by this Regulation are held, kept, bred, handled or shown to the public;

(j) sampling: the taking of samples, ensuring a statistically correct representation, from animals or their environment, or from products of animal origin, for the purpose of establishing a disease diagnosis, familial relationships, for health surveillance, or for the monitoring of the absence of microbiological agents or of certain materials in products of animal origin;

(k) fertilisers: any substance containing products of animal origin utilised on land to enhance growth of vegetation; it may include digestion residues from bio-gas production or composting;

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(l) rapid tests: the screening methods listed in Annex X, for which the results are known within 24 hours;

▼B

(m) alternative test: the tests referred to in Article 8(2) which are used as an alternative to the withdrawal of specified risk material;

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(n) mechanically separated meat or ‘MSM’: the product obtained by removing meat from flesh-bearing bones after boning, using mechanical means resulting in the loss or modification of the muscle fibre structure;

(o) passive surveillance: the reporting of all animals suspected of being infected by a TSE and, where TSE cannot be excluded by clinical investigation, the laboratory testing of such animals;

(p) active surveillance: the testing of animals not reported as suspected of being infected by a TSE, such as emergency slaughtered animals, animals with observations at ante mortem inspection, fallen stock, healthy slaughtered animals and animals culled in connection with a TSE case, in particular in order to determine the evolution and prevalence of TSE in a country or region thereof.

▼B

2. The specific definitions set out in Annex I shall also apply.

3. Where the terms in this Regulation are not defined in paragraph 1 or Annex I, the relevant definitions given in Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 ( 9 ) and those given in or pursuant to Directives 64/432/EEC ( 10 ), 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC and 91/68/EEC ( 11 ) shall apply insofar as reference is made to them in this text.

Article 4

Safeguard measures

1. With regard to the implementation of safeguard measures, the principles and provisions set out in Article 9 of Directive 89/662/EEC, Article 10 of Directive 90/425/EEC, Article 18 of Directive 91/496/EEC ( 12 ) and Article 22 of Directive 97/78/EC ( 13 ) shall apply.

2. The safeguard measures shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2) and shall be notified at the same time to the European Parliament, stating the reasons.







CHAPTER II

DETERMINATION OF BSE STATUS

Article 5

Classification

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1. The BSE status of Member States or third countries or regions thereof (hereinafter referred to as ‘countries or regions’) shall be determined by classification into one of the following three categories:

— negligible BSE risk as defined in Annex II,

— controlled BSE risk as defined in Annex II,

— undetermined BSE risk as defined in Annex II.

The BSE status of countries or regions may be determined only on the basis of the criteria set out in Annex II, Chapter A. These criteria shall include the outcome of a risk analysis on the basis of all the potential factors for the appearance of bovine spongiform encephalopathy as defined in Annex II, Chapter B, and their development over time, as well as comprehensive active and passive surveillance measures taking into account the risk category of the country or region.

Member States, and third countries wishing to be retained on the list of third countries approved for the export to the Community of the live animals or of the products covered by this Regulation, shall submit to the Commission an application for their BSE status to be determined, accompanied by the relevant information on the criteria set out in Annex II, Chapter A, and on the potential risk factors specified in Annex II, Chapter B, and their development over time.

▼B

2. A decision on each application, placing the Member State or third country or region of the Member State or third country which submitted the application in one of the categories defined in Annex II, Chapter C, shall be adopted, taking account of the criteria and potential risk factors set out in paragraph 1, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2).

This decision shall be taken within six months of the submission of the application and of the relevant information referred to in the second subparagraph of paragraph 1. If the Commission finds that the supporting evidence does not include the information laid down in Annex II, Chapters A and B, it shall ask for additional information to be provided within a period to be specified. The final decision shall then be taken within six months of the submission of all information.

After the International Office of Epizootic Diseases (OIE) has established a procedure for the classification of countries by category and if it has placed the applicant country in one of those categories, a re-assessment of the Community categorisation of the country concerned in accordance with the first subparagraph of this paragraph may be decided, if appropriate, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2).

3. If the Commission finds that the information submitted by a Member State or a third country pursuant to Annex II, Chapters A and B, is insufficient or unclear, it may, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2), determine the BSE status of the Member State or third country concerned on the basis of a full risk analysis.

Such a risk analysis must include a conclusive statistical survey of the epidemiological situation regarding TSEs in the applicant Member State or third country, on the basis of the use, in a screening procedure, of rapid tests. The Commission shall take into account the classification criteria used by the OIE.

The rapid tests shall be approved for that purpose in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2) and entered on a list set out in Annex X, Chapter C, point 4.

Such screening procedure may also be used by Member States or third countries which wish to have the classification they carried out on that basis approved by the Commission — in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 24(2).

The cost of such screening procedure shall be borne by the Member State or third country concerned.

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4. Member States and third countries which have not submitted an application in accordance with the third subparagraph of paragraph 1 shall, with respect to the dispatch from their territory of live animals and products of animal origin, comply with the import requirements applicable to countries with an undetermined BSE risk, until they have submitted such an application and a final decision has been taken on their BSE status.

▼B

5. Member States shall notify the Commission as soon as possible of any epidemiological evidence or other information which might lead to a change in BSE status, in particular the results of the monitoring programmes provided for in Article 6.

6. The retention of a third country on one of the lists provided for by Community rules for the purpose of being allowed to export to the Community live animals and products of animal origin for which this Regulation provides specific rules shall be decided upon under the procedure laid down in Article 24(2) and shall be made conditional — in the light of the information available or where a TSE is presumed to be present — on the information provided for in paragraph 1 being supplied. In the event of refusal to supply the said information within three months of the date of the Commission's request, the provisions of paragraph 4 of this Article shall apply until this information has been submitted and evaluated in accordance with paragraphs 2 or 3.

The eligibility of third countries to export to the Community live animals, or products of animal origin for which this Regulation provides specific rules, under conditions based on their category as established by the Commission, shall be conditional upon their undertaking to notify the latter in writing as soon as possible of any epidemiological or other evidence which might lead to a change in BSE status.

7. A decision may be taken, under the procedure laid down in Article 24(2), to change the BSE classification of a Member State or third country, or of one of its regions, in accordance with the results of the checks provided for in Article 21.

8. The decisions referred to in paragraphs 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 shall be based on a risk assessment, taking into consideration the recommended criteria set out in Annex II, Chapters A and B.







CHAPTER III

PREVENTION OF TSE

Article 6

Monitoring system

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1. Each Member State shall carry out an annual monitoring programme for TSEs based on active and passive surveillance in accordance with Annex III. If available for the animal species, that programme shall include a screening procedure using rapid tests.

Rapid tests shall be approved for that purpose in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(3) and listed in Annex X.

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1a. The annual monitoring programme referred to in paragraph 1 shall cover as a minimum the following subpopulations:

(a) all bovine animals above 24 months of age sent for emergency slaughter or with observations at ante mortem inspections;

(b) all bovine animals above 30 months of age slaughtered normally for human consumption;

(c) all bovine animals above 24 months of age not slaughtered for human consumption, which have died or been killed on the farm, during transport or in an abattoir (fallen stock).

Member States may decide to derogate from the provision under point (c) in remote areas with a low animal density, where no collection of dead animals is organised. Member States making use of this possibility shall inform the Commission and submit a list of the areas concerned together with a justification for the derogation. The derogation shall not cover more than 10 % of the bovine population in a Member State.

1b. After consultation of the appropriate scientific committee, the age laid down in paragraph 1a(a) and (c) may be adapted according to scientific progress in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(3).

At the request of a Member State which can demonstrate the improvement of the epidemiological situation of the country, according to certain criteria to be laid down in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(3), the annual monitoring programmes for that particular Member State may be revised.

The Member State concerned shall provide proof of its capability to determine the effectiveness of the measures in place and ensure protection of human and animal health based on a comprehensive risk analysis. In particular, the Member State shall demonstrate:

(a) a clearly declining or consistently low BSE prevalence, based on up-to-date testing results;

(b) that it has implemented and enforced for at least six years a full BSE testing scheme (Community legislation on traceability and identification of live animals and BSE surveillance);

(c) that it has implemented and enforced for at least six years Community legislation on total feed ban for farmed animals.

▼B

2. Each Member State shall inform the Commission and the other Member States, within the Standing Veterinary Committee, of the emergence of a TSE other than BSE.

3. All official investigations and laboratory examinations shall be recorded in accordance with Annex III, Chapter B.

4. Member States shall submit an annual report to the Commission covering at least the information referred to in Annex III, Chapter B, Part I. The report for each calendar year shall be submitted at the latest by 31 March of the following year. The Commission shall present a summary of the national reports covering at least the information referred to in Annex III, Chapter B, Part II, to the Standing Veterinary Committee within three months of the receipt of the said reports.

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5. Rules for the implementation of this Article shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2).

Article 6a

Breeding Programmes

1. Member States may introduce breeding programmes to select for resistance to TSEs in their ovine populations. Those programmes shall include a framework to recognise the TSE-resistant status of certain flocks and may be extended to include other animal species based on scientific evidence corroborating the resistance to TSE of particular genotypes of those species.

2. Specific rules for the programmes provided for in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2).

3. Member States which introduce breeding programmes shall submit regular reports to the Commission in order to enable the programmes to be scientifically evaluated, in particular with regard to their impact on the incidence of TSEs but also on genetic diversity and variability and on the maintenance of old or rare ovine breeds or of those that are well-adapted to a particular region. The scientific results and overall consequences of the breeding programmes shall be evaluated regularly, and where necessary, those programmes shall be amended accordingly.

▼B

Article 7

Prohibitions concerning animal feeding

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1. The feeding to ruminants of protein derived from animals shall be prohibited.

2. The prohibition provided for in paragraph 1 shall be extended to animals other than ruminants and restricted, as regards the feeding of those animals with products of animal origin, in accordance with Annex IV.

3. Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall apply without prejudice to the provisions laid down in Annex IV setting out the derogations from the prohibition contained in those paragraphs.

The Commission may decide in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(3), based on a scientific assessment of the dietary needs of young ruminants and subject to the rules adopted for the implementation of this Article provided for in paragraph 5 of this Article, and following an assessment of the control aspects of this derogation, to allow the feeding of young animals of ruminant species with proteins derived from fish.

4. Member States, or regions thereof, with an undetermined BSE risk shall not be permitted to export or store feed intended for farmed animals which contains protein derived from mammals or feed intended for mammals, except feed for dogs, cats and fur animals, which contains processed protein derived from mammals.

Third countries, or regions thereof, with an undetermined BSE risk shall not be permitted to export to the Community feed intended for farmed animals which contains protein derived from mammals or feed intended for mammals, except feed for dogs, cats and fur animals, which contains processed protein derived from mammals.

At the request of a Member State or third country a decision in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2) may be taken, following detailed criteria to be laid down in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(3), to grant individual exemptions from the restrictions in this paragraph. Any exemption shall take account of the provisions provided for in paragraph 3 of this Article.

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4a. Based on a favourable risk assessment taking into account at least the amount and possible source of contamination and the final destination of the consignment, a decision may be taken in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(3) to introduce a tolerance level for insignificant amounts of animal proteins in feedingstuffs caused through adventitious and technically unavoidable contamination.

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5. Rules for the implementation of this Article, in particular rules on the prevention of cross-contamination and on the methods of sampling and analysis required to check compliance with this Article, shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2). Those rules shall be based on a report of the Commission covering sourcing, processing, control and traceability of feedingstuffs of animal origin.

▼B

Article 8

Specified risk material

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1. The specified risk material shall be removed and disposed of in accordance with Annex V to this Regulation and with Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002. It shall not be imported into the Community. The list of specified risk material referred to in Annex V shall include at least the brain, spinal cord, eyes and tonsils of bovine animals aged over 12 months and the vertebral column of bovine animals above an age to be determined in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(3). Taking into account the different risk categories laid down in the first subparagraph of Article 5(1) and the requirements of Article 6(1a) and (1b) (b), the list of specified risk material in Annex V shall be amended accordingly.

2. Paragraph 1 of this Article shall not apply to tissues from animals which have undergone an alternative test approved for that distinct purpose in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(3) provided that this test is listed in Annex X, is applied under the conditions provided for in Annex V and the test results are negative.

The Member States which authorise the use of an alternative test pursuant to this paragraph shall inform the other Member States and the Commission.

3. In Member States, or regions thereof, with a controlled or undetermined BSE risk, the laceration, after stunning, of central nervous tissue by means of an elongated rod-shaped instrument introduced into the cranial cavity, or by means of gas injection into the cranial cavity in connection with stunning, shall not be used on bovine, ovine or caprine animals whose meat is intended for human or animal consumption.

4. The data relating to age set out in Annex V may be adjusted. Such adjustments shall be based on the latest proven scientific findings concerning the statistical probability of the occurrence of a TSE in the relevant age groups of the Community's bovine, ovine and caprine population.

5. Rules providing for exemptions from paragraphs 1 to 4 of this Article may be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(3), with regard to the date of the effective enforcement of the feeding prohibition provided for in Article 7(1) or, as appropriate for third countries or regions thereof with a controlled BSE risk, with regard to the date of the effective enforcement of the ban of mammalian protein in feed for ruminants with a view to limiting the requirements to remove and destroy specified risk material to animals born before that date in the countries or regions concerned.

▼B

6. Rules for the implementation of this Article shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2).

Article 9

Products of animal origin derived from or containing ruminant material

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1. The products of animal origin listed in Annex VI shall be produced using production processes approved in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(3).

2. Bones of bovine, ovine and caprine animals from countries or regions with a controlled or undetermined BSE risk shall not be used for the production of mechanically separated meat (MSM). Before 1 July 2008, the Member States shall submit a report to the Commission on the use and the production method of MSM in their territory. This report shall include a statement as to whether the Member State intends to continue with the production of MSM.

The Commission shall thereupon present a communication to the European Parliament and the Council on the future necessity and use of MSM in the Community, including the information policy towards consumers.

▼B

3. Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply, in the light of the criteria set out in point 5 of Annex V, to ruminants which have undergone an alternative test which has been recognised in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2), where the results of the test were negative.

4. Rules for the implementation of this Article shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2).

Article 10

Education programmes

1. Member States shall ensure that staff of the competent authority, of diagnostic laboratories and colleges of agriculture and veterinary medicine, official veterinarians, veterinary practitioners, slaughterhouse personnel and animal breeders, keepers and handlers have been given training in the clinical signs, epidemiology and, in the case of staff responsible for carrying out checks, in interpreting laboratory findings relating to TSEs.

2. To ensure effective implementation of the education programmes provided for in paragraph 1, financial assistance from the Community may be granted. The amount of such assistance shall be determined in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2).







CHAPTER IV

CONTROL AND ERADICATION OF TSEs

Article 11

Notification

Without prejudice to Directive 82/894/EEC ( 14 ), the Member States shall ensure that any animal suspected of being infected by a TSE is notified immediately to the competent authorities.

Member States shall regularly inform each other and the Commission of the cases of TSE notified.

The competent authority shall without delay take the measures laid down in Article 12 of this Regulation, together with any other necessary measures.

Article 12

Measures with respect to suspect animals

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1. Any animal suspected of being infected by a TSE shall be either placed under an official movement restriction until the results of a clinical and epidemiological examination carried out by the competent authority are known, or killed for laboratory examination under official control.

If a TSE is officially suspected in a bovine animal at a holding in a Member State, all other bovine animals at that holding shall be placed under an official movement restriction until the results of the examination are available. If a TSE is officially suspected in an ovine or caprine animal at a holding in a Member State, all other ovine and caprine animals at that holding shall be placed under an official movement restriction until the results are available.

However, if there is evidence that the holding where the animal was present when the TSE was suspected is unlikely to be the holding where the animal could have been exposed to the TSE, the competent authority may decide that only the animal suspected of being infected shall be placed under an official movement restriction.

If considered necessary, the competent authority may also decide that other holdings or only the holding of exposure shall be placed under official control depending on the epidemiological information available.

In accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2) and by way of derogation from the official movement restrictions provided for in this paragraph, a Member State may be exempted from implementing such restrictions if it applies measures offering equivalent safeguards based on an appropriate assessment of the possible risks for human and animal health.

▼B

2. Where the competent authority decides that the possibility of infection with a TSE cannot be ruled out, the animal shall be killed, if it is still alive; its brain and all other tissues as the competent authority may determine shall be removed and sent to an officially approved laboratory, the national reference laboratory provided for in Article 19(1) or the Community reference laboratory provided for in Article 19(2), for examination in accordance with the testing methods laid down in Article 20.

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3. All parts of the body of the suspect animal shall be either retained under official control until a negative diagnosis has been made, or disposed of in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002.

▼B

4. Rules for the implementation of this Article shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2).

Article 13

Measures following confirmation of the presence of a TSE

1. When the presence of a TSE has been officially confirmed, the following measures shall be applied as soon as possible:

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(a) all parts of the body of the animal shall be disposed of in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 except for material retained for records in accordance with Annex III, Chapter B, of this Regulation.

▼B

(b) an inquiry shall be carried out to identify all animals at risk in accordance with Annex VII, point 1;

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(c) all animals and products thereof at risk, as listed in Annex VII, point 2, of this Regulation, identified by the inquiry referred to in point (b) of this paragraph shall be killed and disposed of in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002.

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At the request of a Member State and based on a favourable risk assessment taking particularly into account the control measures in that Member State, a decision may be taken in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2) to allow the use of bovine animals referred to in this paragraph until the end of their productive lives.

▼B

By way of derogation from this paragraph, Member States may apply other measures offering an equivalent level of protection, if those measures have been approved in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2).

2. Pending the implementation of the measures referred to in paragraph 1(b) and (c), the holding on which the animal was present when the presence of a TSE was confirmed shall be placed under official control and all movement of animals susceptible to TSEs and products of animal origin derived from them from or to the holding shall be subject to authorisation by the competent authority, with a view to ensuring immediate tracing and identification of the animals and products of animal origin concerned.

If there is evidence that the holding where the affected animal was present when the TSE was confirmed is not likely to be the holding where the animal was exposed to the TSE, the competent authority may decide that both holdings or only the holding of exposure shall be placed under official control.

3. Member States which have implemented a substitute scheme offering equivalent safeguards provided for in the fifth subparagraph of Article 12(1) may, by way of derogation from the requirements of paragraph 1(b) and (c), be exempted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2) from the requirement to apply official restrictions on the movement of animals and from the requirement to kill and destroy animals.

4. Owners shall be compensated without delay for the loss of the animals that have been killed or products of animal origin destroyed in accordance with Article 12(2) and paragraph 1(a) and (c) of this Article.

5. Without prejudice to Directive 82/894/EEC, the confirmed presence of any TSE other than BSE shall be notified to the Commission on an annual basis.

6. Rules for the implementation of this Article shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2).

Article 14

Contingency plan

1. Member States shall draw up — in accordance with the general criteria of Community rules on the control of animal diseases — guidelines specifying the national measures to be implemented and indicating competences and responsibilities where cases of TSE are confirmed.

2. Where necessary to enable Community legislation to be applied uniformly, the guidelines may be harmonised in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2).







CHAPTER V

PLACING ON THE MARKET AND EXPORT

Article 15

Live animals, their semen, embryos and ova

1. Placing on the market or, if need be, export of bovine, ovine or caprine animals and their semen, embryos and ova shall be subject to the conditions laid down in Annex VIII, or, in the case of imports, to the conditions laid down in Annex IX. The live animals and their embryos and ova shall be accompanied by the appropriate animal health certificates as required by Community legislation, in accordance with Article 17 or, in the case of imports, Article 18.

2. The placing on the market of first generation progeny, semen, embryos and ova of TSE suspect or confirmed animals shall be subject to the conditions laid down in Annex VIII, Chapter B.

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3. In accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(3), the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 may be extended to other animal species.

4. Rules for implementing this Article may be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2).

▼B

Article 16

Placing on the market of products of animal origin

1. The following products of animal origin derived from healthy ruminants shall not be subject to restrictions on placing on the market or, if need be, export pursuant to this Article, to Annex VIII, Chapters C and D, and to Annex IX, Chapters A, C, F and G:

(a) products of animal origin covered by Article 15, in particular semen, embryos and ova;

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(b) milk and dairy products, hides and skins, and gelatine and collagen derived from hides and skins.

2. Products of animal origin imported from a third country with a controlled or undetermined BSE risk shall come from healthy bovine, ovine and caprine animals which have not been subjected to a laceration of the central nervous tissue or gas injection into the cranial cavity as referred to in Article 8(3).

3. Food products of animal origin containing material obtained from bovine animals originating in a country or region with an undetermined BSE risk shall not be placed on the market unless they come from animals which:

(a) were born eight years after the date from which the prohibition on the feeding to ruminants of animal protein derived from mammals was effectively enforced; and

(b) were born, raised and have stayed in herds with a certified history of freedom from BSE for at least seven years.

Furthermore, food products of ruminant origin shall not be dispatched from a Member State or a region thereof with an undetermined BSE risk to another Member State or be imported from a third country with an undetermined BSE risk.

This prohibition shall not apply to products of animal origin listed in Annex VIII, Chapter C, and fulfilling the requirements of Annex VIII, Chapter C.

They must be accompanied by an animal health certificate issued by an official veterinarian certifying that they have been produced in conformity with this Regulation.

▼B

4. When an animal is moved from a country or a region to country or region included in another category, it shall be classified in the highest category of the countries or regions in which it has stayed over twenty-four hours unless adequate guarantees can be provided certifying that the animal has not received feedingstuffs from the country or region classified in the highest category.

5. Products of animal origin for which this Article lays down specific rules shall be accompanied by the appropriate animal health certificates or commercial documents as required by Community legislation in accordance with Articles 17 and 18 or, if such certificates or documents are not provided for in Community legislation, by a health certificate or commercial document the specimens of which shall be established in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2).

6. For the purpose of import into the Community, products of animal origin shall comply with the conditions laid down in Annex IX, Chapters A, C, F and G.

7. In accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2), the provisions of paragraphs 1 to 6 may be extended to other products of animal origin. Rules for the implementation of this Article shall be adopted by the same procedure.

Article 17

Under the procedure referred to in Article 24(2), the health certificates referred to in Annex F to Directive 64/432/EEC, Models II and III in Annex E to Directive 91/68/EEC and the appropriate health certificates laid down by Community legislation relating to trade in the semen, embryos and ova of bovine, ovine or caprine animals shall be supplemented, where necessary, by a reference to the category specifying the classification of the Member State or region of origin given in accordance with Article 5.

Appropriate commercial documents relating to trade in products of animal origin shall be supplemented, where necessary, by a reference to the category of the Member State or region of origin given by the Commission in accordance with Article 5.

Article 18

The appropriate health certificates relating to imports provided for by Community legislation shall, under the procedure referred to in Article 24(2), be supplemented in respect of third countries classified in a category pursuant to Article 5 by the specific requirements laid down in Annex IX, as soon as that classification decision has been taken.







CHAPTER VI

REFERENCE LABORATORIES, SAMPLING, TESTING AND CONTROLS

Article 19

Reference laboratories

1. The national reference laboratories in each Member State and their functions and duties shall be those indicated in Annex X, Chapter A.

2. The Community reference laboratory and its functions and duties shall be those laid down in Annex X, Chapter B.

Article 20

Sampling and laboratory methods

1. Sampling and laboratory testing for the presence of a TSE shall be carried out using the methods and protocols laid down in Annex X, Chapter C.

2. Where necessary to ensure the uniform application of this Article, implementing rules, including the method to confirm BSE in ovine and caprine animals, shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2).

Article 21

Community controls

1. Experts from the Commission may make on-the-spot checks in cooperation with the competent authorities of the Member States, insofar as is necessary for the uniform application of this Regulation. The Member State in whose territory checks are made shall provide the experts with all the assistance necessary for carrying out their duties. The Commission shall inform the competent authority of the results of the checks made.

The rules for the application of this Article, and in particular those governing the procedure for cooperation with the national authorities, shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2).

2. Community checks concerning third countries shall be made in accordance with Articles 20 and 21 of Directive 97/78/EC.







CHAPTER VII

TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 22

Transitional measures concerning specified risk material

1. The provisions of Annex XI, Part A shall apply for a period of at least six months from 1 July 2001 and shall cease to apply immediately following the date of adoption of a decision in accordance with Article 5(2) or (4), on which date Article 8 shall enter into force.

2. The results of a conclusive statistical survey carried out in accordance with Article 5(3) during the transitional period shall be used to confirm or overturn the risk analysis conclusions referred to in Article 5(1), while taking account of the classification criteria defined by the OIE.

3. After consultation of the appropriate scientific committee, detailed rules concerning that statistical survey shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2).

4. The minimum criteria to be met by this statistical survey shall be those laid down in Part B of Annex XI.

Article 23

Amendment of the annexes and transitional measures

After consultation of the appropriate scientific committee on any question which could have an impact on public health, the annexes shall be amended or supplemented and any appropriate transitional measures shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2).

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In accordance with that procedure, transitional measures shall be adopted for a period ending on 1 July 2007 at the latest, to permit the change-over from the current arrangements to the arrangements established by this Regulation.

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Article 23a

The following measures which are designed to amend non-essential elements of this Regulation, including by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 24(3):

(a) approval of the rapid tests referred to in Article 6(1) and Article 8(2),

(b) adaptation of the age referred to in Article 6(1b),

(c) criteria to demonstrate improvement of the epidemiological situation referred to in Article 6(1b),

(d) decision to allow feeding of young animals of ruminant species with proteins derived from fish as referred to in Article 7(3),

(e) criteria for granting exemptions from the restrictions referred to in Article 7(4),

(f) decision to introduce a tolerance level as referred to in Article 7(4a),

(g) decision on age as referred to in Article 8(1),

(h) rules providing for exemptions from the requirement to remove and destroy specified risk material as referred to in Article 8(5),

(i) approval of production processes referred to in Article 9(1),

(j) decision to extend certain provisions to other animal species as referred to in Article 15(3).

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Article 24

Committees

1. The Commission shall be assisted by the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health. However, the Standing Committee on Zootechnics shall also be consulted by the Commission with regard to Article 6a.

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 5 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.

The time-limits referred to in Article 5(6) of that Decision shall be three months and, in the case of safeguard measures referred to in Article 4(2) of this Regulation, 15 days.

3. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5a (1) to (4) and Article 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.

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Article 24a

Decisions to be adopted in accordance with one of the procedures referred to in Article 24 shall be based on an appropriate assessment of the possible risks for human and animal health and shall, taking into account existing scientific evidence, maintain, or if scientifically justified increase, the level of protection of human and animal health ensured in the Community.

▼B

Article 25

Consultation of the scientific committees

The appropriate scientific committees shall be consulted on any matter within the scope of this Regulation which could have an impact on public health.

Article 26

Entry into force

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

It shall apply from 1 July 2001.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

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ANNEX I

SPECIFIC DEFINITIONS

1. For the purpose of this Regulation, the following definitions set out in Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 15 ), Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 16 ) and Council Directive 79/373/EEC ( 17 ) shall apply: (a) Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002: (i) ‘farmed animal’ in Article 2(1)(f); (ii) ‘petfood’ in point 41 of Annex I; (iii) ‘processed animal protein’ in point 42 of Annex I; (iv) ‘gelatine’ in point 26 of Annex I; (v) ‘blood products’ in point 4 of Annex I; (vi) ‘bloodmeal’ in point 6 of Annex I; and (vii) ‘fishmeal’ in point 24 of Annex I. (b) the definition of ‘feedingstuff’ in Article 3(4) of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002; (c) the definition of ‘complete feedingstuff’ in Article 2(d) of Directive 79/373/EEC.

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2. For the purpose of this Regulation, the following definitions shall also apply: (a) ‘indigenous case of BSE’ means a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy which has not been clearly demonstrated to be due to infection prior to importation as a live animal; (b) ‘discrete adipose tissue’ means internal and external body fat removed during the slaughter and cutting process, in particular fresh fat from the heart, caul and kidney of bovine animals, and fat from cutting rooms; (c) ‘cohort’ means a group of bovine animals which includes both: (i) animals born in the same herd as the affected bovine animal, and within 12 months preceding or following the date of birth of the affected bovine animal; and (ii) animals which at any time during the first year of their lives were reared together with the affected bovine animal during the first year of its life; (d) ‘index case’ means the first animal on a holding, or in an epidemiologically defined group, in which a TSE infection is confirmed; (e) ‘TSE in Small Ruminants’ means a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy case detected in an ovine or caprine animal following a confirmatory test for abnormal PrP protein; (f) ‘scrapie case’ means a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy confirmed case in an ovine or caprine animal where a diagnosis of BSE has been excluded in accordance with the criteria laid down in the Community reference laboratory's technical handbook on TSE strain characterisation in small ruminants ( 18 ); (g) ‘classical scrapie case’ means a scrapie confirmed case classified as classical in accordance with the criteria laid down in the Community reference laboratory's technical handbook on TSE strain characterisation in small ruminants; (h) ‘atypical scrapie case’ means a scrapie confirmed case which is distinguishable from classical Scrapie in accordance with the criteria laid down in the Community reference laboratory's technical handbook on TSE strain characterisation in small ruminants.

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ANNEX II

DETERMINATION OF BSE STATUS

CHAPTER A

Criteria

The BSE status of Member States or third countries or regions thereof (hereinafter referred to as countries or regions), shall be determined on the basis of the criteria set out in points (a) to (e).

In the country or region:

(a) a risk analysis in accordance with the provisions of Chapter B, identifying all the potential factors for BSE occurrence and their historic perspective in the country or region, is carried out;

(b) a system of continuous surveillance and monitoring of BSE relating in particular to the risks described in Chapter B and complying with the minimal surveillance requirements laid down in Chapter D is in place;

(c) an on-going awareness programme for veterinarians, farmers, and workers involved in transportation, marketing and slaughter of bovine animals, to encourage reporting of all cases showing clinical signs consistent with BSE in target sub-populations as defined in Chapter D of this Annex is in place;

(d) an obligation to notify and investigate all bovine animals showing clinical signs consistent with BSE is in force;

(e) the examination of brain or other tissues collected within the framework of the surveillance and monitoring system referred to in point (b) is carried out in an approved laboratory.

CHAPTER B

Risk analysis

1. Structure of the risk analysis

The risk analyses shall comprise a release assessment and an exposure assessment.

2. Release assessment (external challenge)

2.1. The release assessment shall consist of assessing the likelihood that the BSE agent has either been introduced into the country or region via commodities potentially contaminated with a BSE agent, or is already present in the country or region. The following risk factors shall be taken into account: (a) the presence or absence of the BSE agent in the country or region and, if the agent is present, its prevalence based on the outcome of surveillance activities; (b) the production of meat-and-bone meal or greaves from the BSE indigenous ruminant population; (c) imported meat-and-bone meal or greaves; (d) imported bovine and ovine and caprine animals; (e) imported animal feed and feed ingredients; (f) imported products of ruminant origin for human consumption, which may have contained tissues listed in point 1 of Annex V and may have been fed to bovine animals; (g) imported products of ruminant origin for in vivo use in bovine animals.

2.2. Special eradication schemes, surveillance and other epidemiological investigations (especially surveillance for BSE conducted on the bovine animals population) relevant to the risk factors listed in point 2.1 should be taken into account in carrying out the release assessment.

3. Exposure assessment

The exposure assessment shall consist of assessing the likelihood of exposure of bovine animals to the BSE agent, through a consideration of the following:

(a) recycling and amplification of the BSE agent through consumption by bovine animals of meat-and-bone meal or greaves of ruminant origin, or other feed or feed ingredients contaminated with these;

(b) the use of ruminant carcasses (including from fallen stock), by-products and slaughterhouse waste, the parameters of the rendering processes and the methods of animal feed manufacture;

(c) the feeding or not of ruminants with meat-and-bone meal and greaves derived from ruminants, including measures to prevent cross-contamination of animal feed;

(d) the level of surveillance for BSE conducted on the bovine animals population to that time and the results of that surveillance.

CHAPTER C

Definition of categories

I. COUNTRY OR REGION WITH A NEGLIGIBLE BSE RISK

A country or region:

(1) where a risk analysis in accordance with Chapter B has been conducted in order to identify the historical and existing risk factors;

(2) which has demonstrated that appropriate specific measures have been taken for the relevant period of time defined below to manage each identified risk;

(3) which has demonstrated that Type B surveillance, in accordance with Chapter D, is in place, and the relevant points target, in accordance with Table 2 thereof, has been met; and

(4) which is: (a) either in the following situation: (i) in the country or region there has been no case of BSE, or, any case of BSE has been demonstrated to have been imported and has been completely destroyed; (ii) the criteria in points (c), (d) and (e) of Chapter A of this Annex have been complied with for at least seven years; and (iii) it has been demonstrated through an appropriate level of control and audit that for at least eight years neither meat-and-bone meal nor greaves derived from ruminants has been fed to ruminants; (b) or in the following situation: (i) there has been one or more BSE indigenous cases in the country or region but every BSE indigenous case was born more than 11 years ago; (ii) the criteria in points (c), (d) and (e) of Chapter A have been complied with for at least seven years; (iii) it has been demonstrated through an appropriate level of control and audit that for at least eight years neither meat-and-bone meal nor greaves derived from ruminants has been fed to ruminants; (iv) the following animals, if alive in the country or region, are permanently identified, and their movements controlled, and, when slaughtered or at death, are completely destroyed: — all BSE cases, — all bovine animals which, during their first year of life, were reared with the BSE cases during their first year of life, and which investigation showed consumed the same potentially contaminated feed during that period, or — if the results of the investigation referred to in the second indent are inconclusive, all bovine animals born in the same herd as, and within 12 months of the birth of, the BSE cases.

II. COUNTRY OR REGION WITH A CONTROLLED BSE RISK

A country or region

(1) where a risk analysis based on the information laid down in Chapter B has been conducted in order to identify the historical and existing risk factors;

(2) which has demonstrated that appropriate measures are been taken to manage all identified risks, but those measures have not been taken for the relevant period of time;

(3) which has demonstrated that Type A surveillance, in accordance with Chapter D, is in place and the relevant points target, in accordance with Table 2, has been met. Type B surveillance may replace Type A surveillance once the relevant points target is met; and

(4) which is: (a) either in the following situation: (i) in the country or region there has been no case of BSE, or, any case of BSE has been demonstrated to have been imported and has been completely destroyed, the criteria in points (c), (d) and (e) of Chapter A are complied with, and it can be demonstrated through an appropriate level of control and audit that neither meat-and-bone meal nor greaves derived from ruminants has been fed to ruminants; (ii) the criteria in points (c), (d) and (e) of Chapter A have been complied with for a period shorter than seven years; and/or (iii) it cannot be demonstrated that controls over the feeding of meat-and-bone meal or greaves derived from ruminants to ruminants have been in place for eight years; (b) or in the following situation: (i) in the country or region there has been a BSE indigenous case, the criteria in points (c), (d) and (e) of Chapter A are complied with, and it can be demonstrated through an appropriate level of control and audit that neither meat-and-bone meal nor greaves derived from ruminants has been fed to ruminants; (ii) the criteria in points (c) to (e) of Chapter A of this Annex have been complied with for a period shorter than seven years; and/or (iii) it cannot be demonstrated that controls over the feeding of meat-and-bone meal or greaves derived from ruminants to ruminants have been in place for at least eight years; (iv) the following animals, if alive in the country or region, are permanently identified, and their movements controlled, and, when slaughtered or at death, are completely destroyed: and — all BSE cases, and — all bovine animals which, during their first year of life, were reared with the BSE cases during their first year of life, and which investigation showed consumed the same potentially contaminated feed during that period, or — if the results of the investigation referred to in the second indent are inconclusive, all bovine animals born in the same herd as, and within 12 months of the birth of, the BSE cases.

III. COUNTRY OR REGION WITH UNDETERMINED BSE RISK

A country or region for which the determination of BSE status has not been concluded, or which does not meet the conditions to be fulfilled by the country or region to be classified in one of the other categories.

CHAPTER D

Minimal surveillance requirements

1. Surveillance types

For the purpose of this Annex, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) Type A surveillance The application of Type A surveillance will allow the detection of BSE at a design prevalence ( 19 ) of at least one case per 100 000 in the adult bovine animals population in the country or region of concern, at a confidence level of 95 %;

(b) Type B surveillance The application of Type B surveillance will allow the detection of BSE at a design prevalence of at least one case per 50 000 in the adult bovine animals population in the country or region of concern, at a confidence level of 95 %. Type B surveillance may be carried out by countries or region of negligible BSE risk status to confirm the conclusions of the risk analysis, for example by demonstrating the effectiveness of the measures mitigating any risk factors identified, through surveillance targeted to maximise the likelihood of identifying failures of such measures. Type B surveillance may also be carried out by countries or regions of controlled BSE risk status, following the achievement of the relevant points target using Type A surveillance, to maintain confidence in the knowledge gained through Type A surveillance. For the purpose of this Annex, the following four sub-populations of bovine animals have been identified for surveillance purposes: (a) bovine animals over 30 months of age displaying behavioural or clinical signs consistent with BSE (clinical suspects); (b) bovine animals over 30 months of age that are non-ambulatory, recumbent, unable to rise or to walk without assistance; bovine animals over 30 months of age sent for emergency slaughter or with abnormal observations at ante-mortem inspection (casualty or emergency slaughter); (c) bovine animals over 30 months of age which are found dead or killed on farm, during transport or at an abattoir (fallen stock); (d) bovine animals over 36 months of age at routine slaughter.

2. Surveillance strategy

2.1. The surveillance strategy shall be designed to ensure that samples are representative of the herd of the country or region, and include consideration of demographic factors such as production type and geographic location, and the potential influence of culturally unique husbandry practices. The approach used and the assumptions made shall be fully documented, and the documentation retained for seven years.

2.2. In order to implement the surveillance strategy for BSE, a country shall use documented records or reliable estimates of the age distribution of the adult bovine animals population and the number of bovine animals tested for BSE stratified by age and by sub-population within the country or region.

3. Points values and point targets

Surveillance samples must meet the point targets set out in Table 2, on the basis of ‘point values’ fixed in Table 1. All clinical suspects shall be investigated, regardless of the number of points accumulated. A country shall sample at least three out of the four sub-populations. The total points for samples collected shall be accumulated over a period of a maximum of seven consecutive years to achieve the target number of points. The total points accumulation shall be periodically compared to the target number of points for a country or region.







Table 1 Surveillance point values for samples collected from animals in the given sub-population and age category Surveillance sub-population Routine slaughter (1) Fallen stock (2) Casualty slaughter (3) Clinical suspect (4) Age ≥ 1 year and < 2 years 0,01 0,2 0,4 N/A Age ≥ 2 years and < 4 years (young adult) 0,1 0,2 0,4 260 Age ≥ 4 years and < 7 years (middle adult) 0,2 0,9 1,6 750 Age ≥ 7 years and < 9 years (older adult) 0,1 0,4 0,7 220 Age ≥ 9 years (aged) 0,0 0,1 0,2 45 (1) Bovine animals over 36 months of age at routine slaughter. (2) Bovine animals over 30 months of age which are found dead or killed on farm, during transport or at an abattoir (fallen stock). (3) Bovine animals over 30 months of age that are non-ambulatory, recumbent, unable to rise or to walk without assistance; bovine animals over 30 months of age sent for emergency slaughter or with abnormal observations at ante-mortem inspection (casualty or emergency slaughter). (4) Bovine animals over 30 months of age displaying behavioural or clinical signs consistent with BSE (clinical suspects).







Table 2 Points targets for different adult bovine animals population sizes in a country or region Points targets for countries or regions Adult bovine animals population size (24 months and older) Type A surveillance Type B surveillance ≥ 1 000 000 300 000 150 000 800 000-1 000 000 240 000 120 000 600 000-800 000 180 000 90 000 400 000-600 000 120 000 60 000 200 000-400 000 60 000 30 000 100 000-200 000 30 000 15 000 50 000-100 000 15 000 7 500 25 000-50 000 7 500 3 750

4. Specific targeting

Within each of the sub-populations above in a country or region, a country may target bovine animals identifiable as imported from countries or regions where BSE has been detected and bovine animals which have consumed potentially contaminated feedstuffs from countries or regions where BSE has been detected.

5. BSE surveillance model

A country may choose to use the full BSurvE model or an alternative method based on the BSurvE model to estimate its BSE presence/prevalence.

6. Maintenance surveillance

Once the points target has been achieved, and in order to continue to designate the status of a country or region as controlled BSE risk or negligible risk, surveillance can be reduced to Type B surveillance (provided all other indicators remain positive). However, to continue to comply with the requirements laid down in this Chapter, ongoing annual surveillance must continue to include at least three of the four prescribed sub-populations. In addition all bovine animals clinically suspected of being infected with BSE shall be investigated regardless of the number of points accumulated. The annual surveillance in a country or region following the achievement of the required points target, shall be no less than the amount required for one-seventh of its total Type B surveillancetarget.

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ANNEX III

MONITORING SYSTEM

CHAPTER A

I. MONITORING IN BOVINE ANIMALS

1. General

Monitoring in bovine animals shall be carried out in accordance with the laboratory methods laid down in Annex X, Chapter C, point 3(1)(b).

2. Monitoring in animals slaughtered for human consumption

2.1. All bovine animals over 24 months of age: — subject to ‘special emergency slaughtering’ as defined in Article 2(n) of Council Directive 64/433/EEC ( 20 ), or — slaughtered in accordance with Annex I, Chapter VI, point 28(c), to Directive 64/433/EEC, except animals without clinical signs of disease slaughtered in the context of a disease eradication campaign, shall be tested for BSE.

2.2. All bovine animals over 30 months of age: — subject to normal slaughter for human consumption, or — slaughtered in the context of a disease eradication campaign in accordance with Annex I, Chapter VI, point 28(c), to Directive 64/433/EEC, but showing no clinical signs of disease, shall be tested for BSE.

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3. Monitoring in animals not slaughtered for human consumption

3.1. All bovine animals over 24 months of age which have died or been killed but which were not: — killed for destruction pursuant to Commission Regulation (EC) No 716/96 ( 21 ), — killed in the framework of an epidemic, such as foot-and-mouth disease, — slaughtered for human consumption, shall be tested for BSE.

3.2. Member States may decide to derogate from the provisions of point 3.1 in remote areas with a low animal density, where no collection of dead animals is organised. Member States making use of this derogation shall inform the Commission thereof, and submit a list of the derogated areas. The derogation shall not cover more than 10 % of the bovine population in the Member State.

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4. Monitoring in animals purchased for destruction pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 716/96

All animals born between 1 August 1995 and 1 August 1996 killed for destruction pursuant Regulation (EC) No 716/96 shall be tested for BSE.

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5. Monitoring in other animals

In addition to the testing referred to in points 2 to 4, Member States may on a voluntary basis decide to test other bovine animals on their territory, in particular where those animals originate from countries with indigenous BSE, have consumed potentially contaminated feedingstuffs or were born or derived from BSE infected dams.

6. Measures following testing

6.1. Where an animal slaughtered for human consumption has been selected for testing for BSE, the health marking provided for in Chapter XI of Annex I to Directive 64/433/EEC shall not be carried out on the carcase of that animal until a negative result to the rapid test has been obtained.

6.2. Member States may derogate from the provisions of point 6.1 where an official system is in place in the slaughterhouse ensuring that no parts of examined animals bearing the health mark leave the slaughterhouse until a negative result to the rapid test has been obtained.

6.3. All parts of the body of an animal tested for BSE including the hide shall be retained under official control until a negative result to the rapid test has been obtained, unless they are disposed of in accordance with Article 4(2)(a) and (b) of Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 22 ).

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6.4. All parts of the body of an animal found positive or inconclusive to the rapid test including the hide shall be disposed of in accordance with Article 4(2)(a) and (b) of Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002, apart from material to be retained in conjunction with the records provided for in Chapter B(III).

6.5. Where an animal slaughtered for human consumption is found positive or inconclusive to the rapid test, at least the carcase immediately preceding and the two carcases immediately following the tested positive or inconclusive animal on the same slaughter line shall be destroyed in accordance with point 6.4. By way of derogation, Member States may decide to destroy the aforementioned carcases only if the result of the rapid test is confirmed to be positive or inconclusive by confirmatory examinations referred to in Annex X, Chapter C, point 3.1(b).

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6.6. Member States may derogate from the provisions of point 6.5 where a system is in place in the slaughterhouse preventing contamination between carcase.

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7. Revision of the annual monitoring programmes concerning BSE (BSE monitoring programmes), as provided for in Article 6(1b)

7.1. Member States’ applications

Applications submitted to the Commission by Member States for revision of their annual BSE monitoring programme shall include at least the following:

(a) information on the annual BSE monitoring system in place during the previous six-year period within the territory of the Member State, including detailed documentation proving compliance with the epidemiological criteria set out in point 7.2;

(b) information on the bovine identification and traceability system, as referred to in point (b) of the third subparagraph of Article 6(1b), in place during the previous six-year period within the territory of the Member State, including a detailed description of the functioning of the computerised database as referred to in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 23 )

(c) information on prohibitions concerning animal feeding during the previous six-year period within the territory of the Member State, including a detailed description of the enforcement of the feed ban for farmed animals, as referred to in point (c) of the third subparagraph of Article 6(1b), including the sampling plan and the number and type of infringements found and the follow-up results;

(d) a detailed description of the proposed revised BSE monitoring programme that includes the geographical area in which the programme is to be implemented and a description of subpopulations of bovine animals to be covered by the BSE revised monitoring programme, including indications of the age limits and the sample sizes for testing;

(e) the result of a comprehensive risk analysis showing that the revised BSE monitoring programme will ensure the protection of human and animal health. This risk analysis shall include a birth cohort analysis or other relevant studies aiming to demonstrate that the TSE risk reducing measures, including the feeding prohibitions as referred to in point (c) of the third subparagraph of Article 6(1b), have been implemented in an efficient way.

7.2. Epidemiological criteria

Applications for revision of a BSE monitoring programme may only be accepted if the Member State concerned can demonstrate that, in addition to the requirements laid down in points (a), (b) and (c) of the third subparagraph of Article 6(1b), the following epidemiological criteria are met within its territory:

(a) for a period of at least six consecutive years following the date of implementation of the Community BSE testing scheme as referred to in point (b) of the third subparagraph of Article 6(1b): either (i) the average decrease of the annual BSE incidence rate observed within the adult bovine animal population (over 24 months of age) was superior to 20 %, and the total number of BSE affected cattle born after the implementation of the Community total feed ban for farmed animals, as referred to in point (c) of the third subparagraph of Article 6(1b), did not exceed 5 % of the total number of confirmed BSE cases; or (ii) the annual observed BSE incidence rate within the adult bovine animal population (over 24 months of age) remained consistently less than 1/100 000; or (iii) as a further option for a Member State with an adult bovine animal population (over 24 months of age) of less than 1 000 000 animals, the cumulated number of confirmed BSE cases remained under five;

(b) following the six-year period referred to in point (a), there is no evidence that the BSE epidemiological situation is deteriorating.

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II. MONITORING IN OVINE AND CAPRINE ANIMALS

1. General

Monitoring in ovine and caprine animals shall be carried out in accordance with the laboratory methods laid down in Annex X, Chapter C, point 3.2(b).

2. Monitoring in ovine and caprine animals slaughtered for human consumption

(a) Member States in which the population of ewes and ewe lambs put to the ram exceeds 750 000 animals shall test in accordance with the sampling rules set out in point 4 a minimum annual sample of 10 000 ovine animals slaughtered for human consumption;

(b) Member States in which the population of goats which have already kidded and goats mated exceeds 750 000 animals shall test in accordance with the sampling rules set out in point 4 a minimum annual sample of 10 000 caprine animals slaughtered for human consumption;

(c) Where a Member State experiences difficulty in collecting sufficient numbers of healthy slaughtered ovine or caprine animals to reach its allotted minimum sample size established in points (a) and (b), it may choose to replace a maximum of 50 % of its minimum sample size by testing dead ovine or caprine animals over the age of 18 months at the ratio of one to one and in addition to the minimum sample size set out in point 3. In addition a Member State may choose to replace a maximum of 10 % of its minimum sample size by testing ovine or caprine animals killed in the framework of a disease eradication campaign over the age of 18 months at the ratio of one to one.

3. Monitoring in ovine and caprine animals not slaughtered for human consumption

Member States shall test, in accordance with the sampling rules set out in point 4 and the minimum sample sizes indicated in Table A and Table B, ovine and caprine animals which have died or been killed, but which were not:

— killed in the framework of a disease eradication campaign, or

— slaughtered for human consumption.







Table A Member State population of ewes and ewe lambs put to the ram Minimum sample size of dead ovine animals (1) > 750 000 10 000 100 000-750 000 1 500 40 000-100 000 100 % up to 500 < 40 000 100 % up to 100 (1) Minimum sample sizes are set to take account of the size of the ovine populations in the individual Member States and are intended to provide achievable targets.







Table B Member State population of goats which have already kidded and goats mated Minimum sample size of dead caprine animals (1) > 750 000 10 000 250 000-750 000 1 500 40 000-250 000 100 % up to 500 < 40 000 100 % up to 100 (1) Minimum sample sizes are set to take account of the size of the caprine population in the individual Member States and are intended to provide achievable targets.

4. Sampling rules applicable to the animals referred to in points 2 and 3

The animals shall be over 18 months of age or have more than two permanent incisors erupted through the gum.

The age of the animals shall be estimated on the basis of dentition, obvious signs of maturity, or any other reliable information.

The sample selection shall be designed with a view to avoid the over-representation of any group as regards the origin, age, breed, production type or any other characteristic.

The sampling shall be representative for each region and season. Multiple sampling in the same flock shall be avoided, wherever possible. Member States shall aim their monitoring programmes to achieve, wherever possible, that in successive sampling years all officially registered holdings with more than 100 animals and where TSE cases have never been detected are subject to TSE testing.

The Member States shall put in place a system to check, on a targeted or other basis, that animals are not being diverted from sampling.

However, Member States may decide to exclude from the sampling remote areas with a low animal density, where no collection of dead animals is organised. Member States making use of this derogation shall inform the Commission thereof, and shall submit a list of those remote areas where the derogation applies. The derogation shall not cover more than 10 % of the ovine and caprine population in the Member State concerned.

5. Monitoring in infected flocks

Animals over 18 months of age or have more than two permanent incisors erupted through the gum, and which are killed for destruction in accordance with Annex VII, point 2.3(b)(i) or (ii) or point 5(a), shall be tested based on the selection of a simple random sample, in accordance with the sample size indicated in the following table.







Number of animals over 18 months of age or which have more than two permanent incisors erupted through the gum, killed for destruction in the herd or flock Minimum sample size 70 or less All eligible animals 80 68 90 73 100 78 120 86 140 92 160 97 180 101 200 105 250 112 300 117 350 121 400 124 450 127 500 or more 150

6. Monitoring in other animals

In addition to the monitoring programmes set out in points 2, 3 and 4, Member States may on a voluntary basis carry out monitoring in other animals, in particular:

— animals used for dairy production,

— animals originating from countries with indigenous TSEs,

— animals which have consumed potentially contaminated feedingstuffs,

— animals born or derived from TSE infected dams.

7. Measures following testing of ovine and caprine animals

7.1. Where an ovine or caprine animal slaughtered for human consumption has been selected for TSE testing in accordance with point 2, its carcase shall not be marked with the health marking provided for in Section I, Chapter III of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 854/2004 until a negative result to the rapid test has been obtained.

7.2. Member States may derogate from point 7.1. where a system approved by the competent authority is in place in the slaughterhouse ensuring that all parts of an animal can be traced and that no parts of the animals tested bearing the health mark can leave the slaughterhouse until a negative result to the rapid test has been obtained.

7.3. All parts of the body of a tested animal, including the hide, shall be retained under official control until a negative result has been obtained to the rapid test, except for animal by-products directly disposed of in accordance with Article 4(2)(a), (b) or (e) of Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002.

7.4. Except for the material to be retained in conjunction with the records provided for in Chapter B, Part III of this Annex, all parts of the body of an animal found positive to the rapid test, including the hide, shall be directly disposed of in accordance with Article 4(2)(a), (b) or (e) of Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002.

8. Genotyping

8.1. The prion protein genotype for the codons 136, 154 and 171 shall be determined for each positive TSE case in sheep. TSE cases found in sheep of genotypes which encode alanine on both alleles at codon 136, arginine on both alleles at codon 154 and arginine on both alleles at codon 171 shall immediately be reported to the Commission. Where the positive TSE case is an atypical scrapie case the prion protein genotype for the codon 141 shall be determined.

8.2. In addition to the animals genotyped in accordance with point 8.1, the prion protein genotype for the codons 136, 141, 154 and 171 of a minimum sample of ovine animals shall be determined. In the case of Member States with an adult sheep population of more than 750 000 animals, this minimum sample shall consist of at least 600 animals. In the case of other Member States the minimum sample shall consist of at least 100 animals. The samples may be chosen from animals slaughtered for human consumption, from animals dead-on-farm or from live animals. The sampling should be representative of the entire ovine population.

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III. MONITORING IN OTHER ANIMAL SPECIES

Member States may on a voluntary basis carry out monitoring for TSEs in animal species other than bovine, ovine and caprine animals.

CHAPTER B

REPORTING AND RECORDING REQUIREMENTS

I. REQUIREMENTS ON MEMBER STATES

A. Information to be presented by Member States in their annual report as provided for in Article 6(4)

1. The number of suspected cases placed under official movement restrictions in accordance with Article 12(1), per animal species.

2. The number of suspected cases subject to laboratory examination in accordance with Article 12(2), per animal species, including the results of the rapid and confirmatory tests (number of positives and negatives) and, with regard to bovine animals, an estimation of the age distribution of all tested animals. The age distribution should be grouped whenever possible as follows: ‘below 24 months’, distribution per 12 months between 24 and 155 months, and ‘above 155 months’ of age.

3. The number of flocks where suspected cases in ovine and caprine animals have been reported and investigated pursuant to Article 12(1) and (2).

4. The number of bovine animals tested within each subpopulation referred to in Chapter A, Part (I), points 2.1., 2.2., 2.3., 3.1., 4.1., 4.2., 4.3. and 5. The method for the sample selection, the results of the rapid and confirmatory tests and an estimation of the age distribution of the tested animals grouped as set out in point 2 shall be provided.

5. The number of ovine and caprine animals and flocks tested within each subpopulation referred to in Chapter A, Part II, points 2, 3 and 5 together with the method for sample selection and the results of the rapid and confirmatory tests.

6. The geographical distribution, including the country of origin if not the same as the reporting country, of positive cases of BSE and scrapie. The year, and where possible the month of birth shall be given for each TSE case in bovine, ovine and caprine animals. TSE cases which have been considered atypical and the reasons why shall be indicated. For scrapie cases, the results of the primary molecular testing with a discriminatory immuno-blotting, referred to in Annex X, Chapter C, point 3.2.(c)(i), shall be reported.

7. In animals other than bovine, ovine and caprine, the number of samples and confirmed TSE cases per species.

8. The genotype, and where possible the breed, of each ovine animal either found positive to TSE or sampled in accordance with Chapter A, Part II, points 8.1. and 8.2.

B. Reporting periods

The compilation of reports containing the information referred to in A and forwarded to the Commission on a monthly basis or, with regard to the information referred to in point 8 on a quarterly basis, may constitute the annual report as required by Article 6(4), provided that the information is updated whenever additional information becomes available.

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II. INFORMATION TO BE PRESENTED BY THE COMMISSION IN ITS SUMMARY

The summary shall be presented in a tabled format covering at least the information referred to in part I for each Member State.

III. RECORDS

1. The competent authority shall keep, for seven years, records of: — the number and types of animals placed under movement restrictions as referred to in Article 12(1), — the number and outcome of clinical and epidemiological investigations as referred to in Article 12(1), — the number and outcome of laboratory examinations as referred to in Article 12(2), — the number, identity and origin of animals sampled in the framework of the monitoring programmes as referred to in Chapter A and, where possible, age, breed and anamnestic information, — the prion protein genotype of positive TSE cases in sheep.

2. The investigating laboratory shall keep, for seven years, all records of testing, in particular laboratory workbooks and, where appropriate, paraffin blocks and photographs of western blots.

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ANNEX IV

ANIMAL FEEDING

I. Extension of the prohibition provided for in Article 7(1)

The prohibition provided for in Article 7(1) shall be extended to the feeding:

(a) to farmed animals, with the exception of the feeding to carnivorous fur producing animals, of: (i) processed animal protein; (ii) gelatine of ruminant origin; (iii) blood products; (iv) hydrolysed protein; (v) dicalcium phosphate and tricalcium phosphate of animal origin (dicalcium phosphate and tricalcium phosphate); (vi) feedingstuffs containing the proteins listed in points (i) to (v).

(b) to ruminants, of animal protein and feedingstuffs containing such protein.

II. Derogations from the prohibitions provided for in Article 7(1) and (2), and specific conditions for the application of such derogations.

A. The prohibitions provided for in Article 7(1) and (2) shall not apply to: (a) the feeding to farmed animals of the proteins referred to in points (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) and of feedingstuffs derived from such proteins: (i) milk, milk-based products and colostrum; (ii) eggs and egg products; (iii) gelatine derived from non-ruminants; (iv) hydrolysed proteins derived from parts of non-ruminants and from ruminant hides and skins; (b) the feeding to non-ruminant farmed animals of the proteins referred to in points (i), (ii) and (iii), and of products derived from such proteins: (i) fishmeal, in accordance with the conditions laid down in point B; (ii) dicalcium phosphate and tricalcium phosphate, in accordance with the conditions laid down in point C; (iii) blood products derived from non-ruminants in accordance with the conditions laid down in point D; (c) the feeding to fish of blood meal derived from non-ruminants in accordance with the conditions laid down in point D; (d) the feeding to farmed animals of tuber and root crops and feedingstuffs containing such products following the detection of bone spicules may be permitted by the Member States if there has been a favourable risk assessment. The risk assessment shall take into account at least the amount and possible source of contamination and the final destination of the consignment; ▼M40 e) the feeding to unweaned farmed animals of the ruminant species of fishmeal in accordance with the conditions laid down in point BA). ▼M22

B. The following conditions shall apply for the use of fishmeal referred to in point A(b)(i) and feedingstuffs containing fishmeal in the feeding of non-ruminant farmed animals (not applicable to the feeding of carnivorous fur producing animals): (a) the fishmeal shall be produced in processing plants dedicated exclusively to the production of fish derived products; (b) before release for free circulation in the Community, each consignment of imported fishmeal shall be analysed by microscopy in accordance with Directive 2003/126/EC; (c) feedingstuffs containing fishmeal shall be produced in establishments which do not produce feedingstuffs for ruminants and which are authorised for this purpose by the competent authority. By way of derogation from point (c): (i) a specific authorisation for the production of complete feedingstuffs from feedingstuffs containing fishmeal shall not be required for home compounders: — registered by the competent authority, — keeping only non-ruminants, — producing complete feedingstuffs for use only in the same holding, and — provided that the feedingstuffs containing fishmeal used in the production contain less than 50 % crude protein; (ii) the production of feedingstuffs for ruminants in establishments which also produce feedingstuffs containing fishmeal for other animal species may be authorised by the competent authority subject to the following conditions: — bulk and packaged feedingstuffs destined for ruminants are kept in facilities physically separate from those for bulk fishmeal and bulk feedingstuffs containing fishmeal during storage, transport and packaging, — feedingstuffs destined for ruminants are manufactured in facilities physically separate from facilities where feedingstuffs containing fishmeal are manufactured, — records detailing the purchases and uses of fishmeal and the sales of feedingstuffs containing fishmeal are kept available to the competent authority for at least five years, and — routine tests are carried out on feedingstuffs destined for ruminants to ensure that prohibited proteins including fishmeal are not present. ▼M40 (d) the commercial document accompanying consignments of feedingstuffs containing fishmeal and any packaging containing such consignments, must be clearly marked with the words ‘contains fishmeal — must not be fed to ruminants’. ▼M22 (e) Bulk feedingstuffs containing fishmeal shall be transported by means of vehicles which do not at the same time transport feedingstuffs for ruminants. If the vehicle is subsequently used for the transport of feedingstuffs intended for ruminants, it shall be thoroughly cleaned in accordance with a procedure approved by the competent authority to avoid cross-contamination. (f) The use and storage of feedingstuffs containing fishmeal shall be prohibited in farms where ruminants are kept. By way of derogation from that condition, the competent authority may permit the use and storage of feedingstuffs containing fishmeal in farms where ruminants are kept, if it is satisfied that on-farm measures are implemented to prevent that feedingstuffs containing fishmeal are fed to ruminants.

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BA The following conditions shall apply for the use of fishmeal referred to in point A(e) and feedingstuffs containing fishmeal in the feeding of unweaned farmed animals of the ruminant species: (a) the fishmeal shall be produced in processing plants dedicated exclusively to the production of fish-derived products; (b) before release for free circulation in the Community, each consignment of imported fishmeal shall be analysed by microscopy in accordance with Directive 2003/126/EC; (c) the use of fishmeal for young farmed animals of the ruminant species will only be authorised for the production of milk replacers, distributed in dry form and administered after dilution in a given quantity of liquid, intended for the feeding of unweaned ruminants as a supplement to, or substitute for, post-colostral milk before weaning is complete; (d) milk replacers containing fishmeal intended for young farmed animals of the ruminant species shall be produced in establishments which do not produce other feedingstuffs for ruminants and which are authorised for this purpose by the competent authority. By way of derogation from point (d), the production of other feedingstuffs for ruminants in establishments which also produce milk replacers containing fishmeal intended for young farmed animals of the ruminant species may be authorised by the competent authority subject to the following conditions: (i) bulk and packaged other feedingstuffs destined for ruminants are kept in facilities physically separate from those for bulk fishmeal and bulk milk replacers containing fishmeal during storage, transport and packaging, (ii) other feedingstuffs destined for ruminants are manufactured in facilities physically separate from facilities where milk replacers containing fishmeal are manufactured, (iii) records detailing the purchases and uses of fishmeal and the sales of milk replacers containin