COUNCIL CONCLUSIONS of 12 November 1996 on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) (96/C 374/02)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

REFERRING to its conclusions of 18 June 1996 on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) (1);

RECALLING the conclusions of the Council of 7 October 1996 on research on bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and related human diseases;

REITERATES that protection of public health is the top priority regarding the prevention of transmission of TSEs, as stated in the conclusions of the Florence Summit;

NOTES that the paramount importance to be accorded to the protection of health has been underlined on several occasions at Community level since its conclusions of 18 June 1996;

NOTES the initiatives taken by the European Parliament in relation to BSE and Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (CJD);

NOTES the current epidemiological data relating to CJD supplied by Member States;

NOTES the developments which have taken place since its conclusions of 18 June 1996, in relation to:

- the surveillance of CJD, at the level of the Member States and at Community level,

- the monitoring of the scientific evidence relating to causes and transmission of CJD,

- the establishment of the Multidisciplinary Scientific Committee on BSE to advise the Commission on possible risks from, and routes of exposure to, TSEs and for examining priorities for scientific research,

- the establishment of the Weissmann Group to review the present state of research in relation to BSE and CJD, on possible links between BSE and CJD and to identify relevant research initiatives,

- other actions taken by the Commission services under various policy frameworks, including foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, consumer protection, agriculture and health and safety;

REITERATES that, with a view to preventing the risk of possible transmission of BSE, appropriate measures should continue to be taken and the mechanisms identified in its resolution of 18 June 1996, appropriately developed, including in particular:

- the rapid establishment of epidemiological surveillance of CJD in all Member States, on the basis of comparable data, taking fully into account as a starting point the work of the research surveillance programme put in place in five Member States,

- the exchange, between Member States, of information, of experience and expertise in the area of diagnosis and control of cases of TSEs,

- cooperation, as appropriate, with competent international organizations in the field of public health,

- the promotion of appropriate research strategies aimed at the prevention of TSEs, taking fully into account public health needs, as well as the scientific advice from expert groups, such as the Weissmann Group and the Multidisciplinary Scientific Committee;

CONSIDERS that, for public health purposes, there is a need for appropriate coordination between all bodies concerned, including committees established by the Commission, relating to TSEs;

URGES the Member States to cooperate closely with each other, in close liaison with the Commission and with the advisory committees established by the Commission, in order to coordinate their health policies and programmes for the monitoring and control of TSEs in humans;

AGREES to keep the issue under consideration.

(1) OJ No C 194, 5. 7. 1996, p. 1.