1.

In Annex XI, Part A, points 1 and 2 are replaced by the following: ‘1. (a) The following tissues are designated as specified risk material: (i) the skull excluding the mandible and including the brain and eyes, the vertebral column excluding the vertebrae of the tail, the spinous and transverse processes of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae and the median sacral crest and wings of the sacrum, but including the dorsal root ganglia, and the spinal cord of bovine animals aged over 12 months, and the tonsils, the intestines from the duodenum to the rectum and the mesentery of bovine animals of all ages; (ii) the skull including the brain and eyes, the tonsils and the spinal cord of ovine and caprine animals aged over 12 months or which have a permanent incisor erupted through the gum, and the spleen and ileum of ovine and caprine animals of all ages. The age specified in (i) for the removal of the bovine vertebral column may be adjusted by amending this Regulation in the light of the statistical probability of the occurrence of BSE in the relevant age groups of the Community's bovine population, based on the results of BSE monitoring as established by Chapter A.I of Annex III. (b) In addition to the specified risk material listed in (a), the following tissues must be designated as specified risk material in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: the entire head excluding the tongue, including the brain, eyes and trigeminal ganglia; the thymus, the spleen and the spinal cord of bovine animals aged over six months. 2. By way of derogation from point 1(a)(i), a decision may be taken in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2) to allow the use of the vertebral column and dorsal root ganglia from bovine animals: (a) born, continuously reared and slaughtered in Member States for which a scientific evaluation established that the occurrence of BSE in native bovine animals is highly unlikely, or unlikely but not excluded; or (b) born after the date of effective enforcement of the prohibition on the feeding of mammalian protein to ruminants in Member States with reported BSE in native animals or for which a scientific evaluation established that the occurrence of BSE in native bovine animals is likely. The United Kingdom and Sweden may benefit from this derogation on the basis of previously submitted and evaluated evidence. Other Member States may apply for this derogation by submitting conclusive supporting evidence to the Commission regarding point (a) or (b), as appropriate. Member States benefiting from this derogation shall, in addition to the requirements laid down in Annex III, Chapter A, Section I, ensure that one of the approved rapid tests listed in Annex X, Chapter C, point 4, is applied to all bovine animals over 30 months of age which: (i) have died on the farm or in transport, but which have not been slaughtered for human consumption, with the exception of those dead animals in remote areas with a low animal density situated in Member States where the occurrence of BSE is unlikely; (ii) were subject to normal slaughter for human consumption. This derogation shall not be granted to allow the use of vertebral column and dorsal root ganglia from bovine animals aged over 30 months from the United Kingdom. Experts from the Commission may carry out on-the-spot checks to further verify the submitted evidence in accordance with Article 21.’