WRITTEN QUESTION E-0801/01

by Klaus-Heiner Lehne (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 March 2001)

Subject: BSE controls and imports of Argentinian beef

Against the background of the BSE crisis, increasing quantities of Argentinian beef are being imported into Europe.

This gives rise to the following questions:

1. Are such imports of beef from Argentina previously tested for BSE?

2. Does the Commission insist vis-à-vis the Argentine authorities on a BSE test?

3. What animals are in general tested for BSE in Argentina?

4. Is it the case that imports of beef from Argentina do not normally previously undergo a BSE test?

5. Is it the case that in previous years European animal meal products have been imported into South America, including Argentina?

6. If that is the case, to which South American countries have animal meal products been exported?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(21 June 2001)

Currently no tests are available to detect bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the meat itself. Testing is carried out on animals. The rapid tests used in the Community are capable of detecting BSE affected animals in the clinical phase of BSE or close to the clinical phase, when applied to the brain or spinal cord after the death or slaughter of the animal. These tests have a valuable role in ensuring that animals in the late stages of incubation of BSE do not enter the food chain. However, they are not able to detect infection in the early stages.

With regard to the aspect of human health, it is clear that the removal of specified BSE risk material remains the key measure. The Commission cannot over-emphasise the importance of effective removal of these specified risk materials.

However, the conclusion of the geographical BSE risk (GBR) assessment carried out by the Scientific Steering Committee for Argentina was that it is highly unlikely that domestic cattle in Argentina has been infected with the BSE-agent. As a result, Argentina has therefore been exempted from the requirements laid down in the Commission Decision 97/534/EC of 30 July 1997 on the prohibition of the use of material presenting risks as regards transmissible spongiform encephalopathies(1).

So far, no third country exporting to the Community has been required to carry out systematic BSE testing as an export condition. The need to require such testing in the future will be examined in the framework of a further harmonisation of the import conditions pursuant to the proposed Regulation of the Parliament and of the Council laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies(2). The BSE risk in the exporting country, the most appropriate way to manage that risk and the international standard will have to be taken into account. Currently the international standard does not recommend BSE testing as a trade condition.

As regards testing of animals already carried out in Argentina, a BSE surveillance system was established in 1992 to determine the prevalence of BSE in the livestock population. Testing has been carried out, mostly on cattle over 24 months, but also on sheep, goats, deer and lamas. Between 1992 and 1999, 4 453 samples have been examined, out of which 680 were from animals with suspect clinical signs; all were negative with regard to BSE.

No exports to Argentina of processed animal protein from the Community have been recorded in the Statistical Office of the European Communities (Eurostat) and Statistics on external trade (Nimexe) databases since 1980.

Exports to the South American countries, that have already been assessed by the Scientific Steering Committee with regard to their geographical BSE-risk (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay and Uruguay) of flours, meals and pellets made from meat or offal, greaves, not fit for human consumption, have been very small in the last 20 years. In the GBR terminology they have been negligible.

(1) OJ L 216, 8.8.1997.

(2) OJ C 258, 10.9.1999.