WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3850/97 by Jean-Pierre BÉBÉAR to the Commission. BSE - industrial use of tallow
Date: 1997-12-05
Institutions: BEBEAR, European Parliament
Subjects: animal fats, cattle, health risk, infectious disease, offal, public health

C 187/70

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

16. 6. 98

(98/C 187/110)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3850/97

by Jean-Pierre Be·be·ar (PPE) to the Commission

(5 December 1997)

Subject: BSE › industrial use of tallow

The European Commission Decision 97/534/EC (1) of 20 July 1997 seeks to prohibit the use in the countries of
the  European  Union  of  (cid:145)materials  presenting  risks  as  regards  transmissible  spongiform  encephalopathies(cid:146)  of
bovine, ovine or caprine origin, with effect from 1 January 1998.

In the European Union companies manufacture oleochemical products based on tallow products intended for use,
for example, in textile softeners, paint additives, printing inks or emulsifiers for road asphalt.

Decision 97/534/EC c call into question all the authorizations and approvals of these products as far as the clients
are concerned.

Would it be possible, while still protecting public health, to make the Commission decision more specific as
regards imports from third countries for the production of non-pharmaceutical and non-cosmetic by-products?

(1)  OJ L 216, 8.8.1997, p. 95.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(5 February 1998)

Commission Decision 97/534/EC of 30 July 1997 on the prohibition of the use of material presenting risks as
regards  transmissible  spongiform  encephalopathies  prohibits,  from  1  April  1998  onwards,  the  use  in  the
Community for any purpose of specified risk material. The Decision defines (cid:145)specified risk material(cid:146) as:

a) 

the skull, including the brain and eyes, tonsils and spinal cord of:

›  bovine animals aged over 12 months,

›  ovine and caprine animals which are aged over 12 months or have a permanent incisor tooth erupted

through the gum;

b) 

the spleens of ovine and caprine animals.

The effect of this Decision on Community tallow production is that slaughterhouse waste used as raw material
will not contain the above tissues, but these tissues do not form a significant proportion of the raw material. In
addition, fallen stock would not be available for tallow production, but these carcases constitute a very small
proportion of the raw material. The effect of Decision 97/534/EC on the production of tallow in the Community
will, therefore, be negligible.

As far as imports from third countries are concerned, the Decision only requires that products for food, animal
feed, medical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic purposes be certified free from specified risk materials. It does not
affect tallow products for industrial use.

However, the Commission is aware of the concern in some quarters, referred to by the Honourable Member, that
the wording of the Decision could give rise to different interpretations. Accordingly, the Commission intends, in
the course of amending the Decision in the light of new scientific advice, to take the opportunity to clarify the text
to make it clear that it does not apply to products which carry no health risk.

(98/C 187/111)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3851/97

by Rijk van Dam (I-EDN) to the Commission

(21 November 1997)

Subject: Freedom of religion in Morocco

In answer to my Written Question E-3136/97 (1) the Commission stated that it was not in a position to confirm
reports of the illegal expulsion of two Christians from Morocco. Nonetheless, various organizations including