Proposal for a Council Decision concerning emergency measures to protect against bovine spongiform encephalopathy, amending Decision 94/474/EC and repealing Decision 96/239/EC
Date: 1998-03-09
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: United Kingdom, animal disease, animal product, cattle, export restriction

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 09.03.1998 
COM(1998) 161  final 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

concerning emergency measures to protect against bovine spongiform  encephalopathy, 

amending Decision 94/474/EC and repealing Decision 96/239/EC 

(presented by the Commission) 

KXI'LANATOKYMKMORANDIJM 

Aller  announcement  by  the  UK  authorities  of  a  |>ossible  link  between  BSE  and  (Ml), 

the  Commission  adopted  on  the  27th  of  March  19%,  the  Decision  96/239/EC  which 

prohibits  dispatch  from  the  United  Kingdom  of  live  bovine  animals  and  bovine 

products.  In  the  Council  of  22  June  1996,  leading  to  the  Florence  Agreement,  the 

preconditions  for  the  step  by  step  lifting  of  the  prohibitions  were  set  out.  The 

implementation  of  an  effective  disease  eradication  plan,  including  selective  slaughter 

of  potentially  exposed  animals  and  culling  of animals  over  30 months of age and  their 

destruction, 

is  central 

in  the  preconditions.  One  of  the  main  steps  within  the 

framework  of  is  a  gradual  removing  of  the  export  ban  for  animals  and  meat  from 

certified  herds,  i.e.  without  a  history  of  BSE  and  no  exposure  to  infected  meat  and 

bone  meal. 

At  the  end  of  June  1996  the  plan  to  eradicate  BSE  of  the  United  Kingdom  was 

adopted.  Satisfactory  progress  to  eradicate  the  disease  has  been  made.  At  the  peak  of 

the  epidemic,  in  1992,  37.280  BSE  cases  were  confirmed,  last  year  a  substantially 

reduced  number  of  3.396  BSE  cases  were  confirmed.  To  date  over  3  million  cattle 

have  been  slaughtered  and  destroyed  under  the  various  programmes  of the  eradication 

plan. 

The  United  Kingdom  first  put  forward  in  February  1997  a  proposal  for  an  Export 

Certified  Herds  Scheme,  with  a  view  to  lifting  the  restrictions.  Following  rejection  by 

the  Scientific  Veterinary  Committee  in  June,  the  United  Kingdom  put  forward  a 

modified  proposal  in July. 

In the  summer  of  1997 new  information  on a large scale fraud  with UK beef  emerged. 

Investigations  by the UCLAF  and the FVO  showed  deficiencies  in the  official  control 

of  production  of  beef  in  the  United  Kingdom  for  dispatch  from  their  territory, 

following  this  information  the  strategy  on  reinforcing  veterinary  controls  in  order  to 

prevent  fraud  has  been  decided,  and  was  communicated  through  the  (fourth)  progress 

report  to  the  temporary  Committee  of  the  European  Parliament  on  the  follow-up  of 

± 

recommendations  on  BSE  in  October.  These  conditions  for  a  reinforced  veterinary 

control  system  have been  incorporated  in the  proposal. 

l'art  of  the  proposal  was already  presented  to  the  Member  States  in June  1997.  At  that 

stage  only  the  withdrawal  for  the  exemption  for  dispatch  of  gelatine  from  cattle 

slaughtered  in the  UK and  some clarifications  were proposed.  The  reinforced  controls, 

the  partial  lifting  of  the  prohibitions  and  further  clarifications  became  opportune  only 

recently,  and  therefore,  were  included  in the present  proposal. 

This  proposal  was  first  discussed  in  a  working  group  of  the  standing  veterinary 

committee  on  29 January  1998, where  it was generally  commended.  To  the contrary  it 

met  strong  opposition  in  the  Standing  Veterinary  Committee  itself.  The  crucial 

element  in the discussion  was the acceptance  of  non-eligible  animals  in eligible  herds. 

This  is  endorsed  by  the  Scientific  Veterinary  Committee  on  condition  that  non-

eligible  animals  cannot  enter  the  scheme.  It  is  justified  by  the  assumption  that 

transmission  from  animal  to  animal  does  not  take  place.  In  the  proposal  non-eligible 

animals  are  accepted  in  eligible  herds,  these  non-eligible  animals  cannot  enter  the 

scheme. 

In  the  Standing  Veterinary  Committee  meeting  of  4  March  Denmark,  Greece, 

Ireland,  Italy,  The  Netherlands,  Austria,  Portugal,  Finland,  Sweden  and,  of-course, 

the  United  Kingdom  supported 

the  proposal.  Belgium,  Germany,  Spain  and 

Luxembourg  voted  against  because  they  object  to  the  possibility  in  the  Export 

Certified  Herds  Scheme  for  export  from  eligible  herds  to  which  ineligible  animals 

have  been  added.  France  abstained,  not  because  they  reject  the  proposal  in  principle, 

but  because  they  feel  that  there  are  too  many  outstanding  technical  issues  still  to 

settle. 

The  Commission  not  having  received  a  favourable  opinion  from 

the  Standing 

Veterinary  Committee,  is  required  under  Article  17  of  Directive  89/662  to  submit  a 

proposal  to the Council  without  delay. 

1. 

PROPOSAI, for a 

COUNCIL  DECISION 

of 

concerning emergency  measures ui^rotecl against  bovine spongiform  encephalopathy, 

amending  Decision  94/474/EC and repealing  Decision  96/239/EC 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN  UNION, 

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, 

Having  regard  to  Council  Directive  90/425/EEC  of  26  June  1990  concerning  veterinary  and 

xoolechnical  checks applicable  in intra-Community  trade in certain  live  animals and  products 

with  a  view  to  the  completion  of  the  internal  market1,  as  last  amended  by  Directive 

92/118/EEC,  and in particular Article  10(4)  thereof, 

Having  regard to Council  Directive  89/662/EEC  of  11  December  1989 concerning  veterinary 

checks  in intra-Community  trade with a view to the completion of the internal market3, as last 

amended by Directive 92/118/EEC, and in particular Article 9(4)  thereof, 

I laving  regard the proposal of the Commission, 

i 

OJ No  L 224,  18.8.1990, p.29. 
OJ No L 62,  15.3.1993, p.49. 
OJ No  L 395, 30.12.1989, p.13. 

( I )  Whereas  new  information  has been  published  in the  I Initctl  Kingdom  further  supporting 

the  hypothesis  that  exposure  to  the  bovine  spongiform  encephalopathy  (BSE!)  agent  is 

linked  to the  new  variant  of Creulzfcldl  Jacob  Disease  (CJD)  in  humans;  whereas  on  16 

September  1997  the  Spongiform  Encephalopathy  Advisory  Committee  (SEAC)  of  the 

United  Kingdom  concluded  that recent research  provided  compelling  new  evidence  that 

the  agent  which  causes  BSE  is  identical  to  the  agent  which  causes  the  new  variant  of 

CJD  in humans; whereas on  18 September  1997 the Advisory  Committee  on  Dangerous 

Pathogens  (ACDP)  concluded  that  the  BSE  agent  should  now  be  classified  as  a  human 

pathogen; 

(2)  Whereas,  in  those  circumstances  and  as  an  emergency  measure,  it  is  appropriate  to 

prohibit  temporarily  the dispatch  to the other  Member  States of all  bovine animals  from 

the  United  Kingdom  and  of  all  products  consisting  entirely  or  in  part  of,  or 

incorporating  materials  derived  from,  bovine  animals  slaughtered 

in  the  United 

Kingdom  which  are  liable to enter the human  food  or animal  feed  chains or are  destined 

for  use  in  cosmetic,  pharmaceutical  or  medical  products;  whereas  in  order  to  prevent 

deflections  of  trade,  the  same  prohibitions  should  also  apply  to  exports  to  third 

countries; 

(3)  Whereas,  in  order  to  protect  animal  and  human  health 

in  the  Community, 

the 

Commission  adopted  Decision  94/474/EC  of  27  July  1994  concerning  certain 

protection  measures  relating  to  bovine  spongiform  encephalopathy  and  repealing 

Decisions  89/469/1 -EC  and  90/200/1 «EC,  as  last  amended  by  Decision  95/287/EC\ 

Decision  92/290/EEC  of  14 May  1992  concerning  certain  protection  measures  relating 

to bovine embryos in respect of bovine spongiform  encephalopathy  (BSE)  in the  United 

Kingdom6,  as  amended  by  the  Act  of  Accession  of  Austria,  Finland  and  Sweden, 

Decision  94/381/EC  of  27  June  1994  concerning  certain  protection  measures  with 

regard  to  bovine  spongiform  encephalopathy  and  the  feeding  of  mammalian  derived 

4 
5 
6 

O J N oL  194, 29.7.1994, p.96. 
O J N oL  181, 1.8.1995, p.40. 
O J N oL  152,4.6.1992, p.37. 

protein7, as amended  by  Decision  95/60/EC8,  and  Decision  96/449/EC  of  18 July  1996 

on the approval  of alternative heat treatment systems for processing animal  waste with a 

view  to the inactivation  of spongiform  encephalopathy  agents"; 

(4)  Whereas  the  United  Kingdom  has  taken  measures  as  a  result  of  the  publication  of 

information  on certain cases of CJD in that Member State; 

(5)  Whereas  the  United  Kingdom  has banned  the  use  of  mammalian  meat-and-bone  meal, 

regardless of  ils origin,  for  feeding  farm animals; whereas  it is necessary  to provide that 

mammalian  meat-and-bone  meal  and  farm  animal  feed  and  fertilizers  containing 

mammalian  meat-and-bone  meal,  which  by  their  nature  could  enter  the  farm  animal 

feed chain, may not be dispatched from the United Kingdom; 

(6)  Whereas  the  risk  of  transmissible  spongiform  encephalopathies  (TSEs)  entering  the 

human  food  or  animal  feed  chains  through  the  consumption  of  protein  derived  from 

domestic  carnivores  is  considered  low;  whereas  that  risk  can  be  further  reduced  by 

requiring  that  domestic  carnivores  are  not  fed  mammalian  meat-and-bone  meal 

originating  in  the  United  Kingdom;  whereas  it  is  therefore  appropriate  to  provide  that 

food  for domestic carnivores  which  is produced  in the United  Kingdom  but contains  no 

mammalian  meat-and-bone  meal  originating  in that country  may  be dispatched  from  its 

territory  to other Member Slates or to third countries; 

(7)  Whereas the United Kingdom has taken measures to destroy certain bovine tissues; 

(8)  Whereas  Commission  Decision  96/239/EC  of  27  March  1996  on  emergency  measures 

to  protect  against  bovine  spongiform  encephalopathy10,  prior  to  its  amendment  by 

Decision  96/362/EC",  prohibited  the  dispatch  from  the  United  Kingdom  to  other 

O J N o l,  172, 7.7.1994, p. 23. 
O J N oL  55,  11.3.1995, p.43. 
OJNoL  184, 24.7.1996, p.43. 
O J N oL  78, 28.3.1996,  p.47. 
OJ No  LI 39,  12.6.1996, p. 17. 

10 

li 

Member  Slates  and  to  third  countries,  in  particular,  of  bovine  semen,  and  certain  other 

products  from  the  United  Kingdom  obtained  from  bovine  animals  slaughtered  in  Ihe 

United  Kingdom  which  are  liable  to  enter  the  animal  feed  or  human  food  chains  and 

materials destined  for  use in medicinal  products, cosmetics or pharmaceutical  products; 

(9)  Whereas  the  Scientific  Veterinary  Committee  was  consulted  on  18 April  1996  and  on 

26  April  1996;  whereas  in  the  opinion  of  that  Committee,  bovine  semen  is  considered 

to be safe  for animal  health  with  respect  to BSE!; 

(10)  Whereas  the  Scientific  Committee  on  Cosmetology  was  consulted  on  Ihe  safety  of 

certain  bovine  products  on  11 April  1996; whereas  the  Liaison  Committee  of  F!uropean 

Associations  of  the  Perfume,  Cosmetic  Products  and  Toiletries  Industries  (Colipa)  has 

recommended  its  members  not  to  use  source  materials  from  United  Kingdom  bovine 

animals;  whereas 

that  Committee  has  declared 

that 

its  members  follow 

that 

recommendation;  whereas  Commission  Directive  97/1/EC of  10 January  1997  adapting 

to  technical  progress  Annexes  II, III,  VI, and  VII  of  Council  Directive  76/768/EEC  on 

the approximation  of the  laws of the Member  States relating  to cosmetic  products  l2, has 

provisionally  prohibited  the  placing  on  the  market  of  cosmetic  products  containing 

certain  tissues and  fluids; 

(11)  Whereas  the  Scientilic  Committee  for  Food  was  consulted  on  the  safety  of  certain 

bovine  products on  15 April  1996; 

(12)  Whereas  the  Committee  for  Proprietary  Medicinal  Products  was  consulted  on  16  April 

1996;  whereas  the  pharmaceutical  sector  had  already  introduced  measures  relating  to 

the  sourcing  of  materials  and  their  treatment;  whereas  every  medicinal  product 

undergoes a pre-marketing  approval  before  it is placed  on the market by  virtue of  which 

the  treatment  process  of  any  raw  material  is  evaluated;  whereas  at  the  request  of  the 

F!uropean  Medicines  Evaluation  Agency,  all  Community  marketing  authorization 

holders,  or  applicants  with  a  positive  opinion  from  the  Committee  for  Proprietary 

12 

O J N oL  16,  18.1.1997, p.85. 

Medicinal  Products  or  the  Committee  for  Veterinary  Medicinal  Products,  have 

continued  that  the products concerned  do  not contain  bovine  tissue of  United  Kingdom 

origin; 

(13)  Whereas  subsequently,  additional  information  was  made  available  in order to  facilitate 

a  more  complete  risk  assessment;  whereas,  on  that  basis,  the  Scientific  Veterinary 

Committee  on  26  April  1996  concluded  that a combination  of  appropriate  sourcing  of 

bovine materials used and the application of minimum processing  standards which have 

been  shown  effectively  to  inactivate  the  BSE  agent  together  give  good  reassurances 

about the safety  of those materials for food  or cosmetic  use; whereas, consequently,  the 

Scientific  Veterinary  Committee  has recommended  safety  parameters for the production 

of those materials which are therefore considered  to be safe; 

(14)  Whereas  the Commission  accordingly  considered  that certain  products, such  as gelatin 

and tallow,  were safe; 

(15)  Whereas  in  1988  the  United  Kingdom  introduced  a  requirement  for  animals  affected 

with BSE to be completely  destroyed; whereas the Council, at its meeting on  1, 2 and 3 

April  1996,  concluded  that bovine  animals  over the age  of  30  months  should  not  enter 

the  human  food  or  animal  feed  chains  or  be  used  for  cosmetic  or  pharmaceutical 

products;  whereas  such  animals  should  not  be  used  as  source  materials  for  certain 

bovine products; 

(16)  Whereas  furthermore,  certain  bovine  tissues  should  not  be  used  as  source  materials  for 

those products; 

(17)  Whereas Decision 96/362/EC amended Decision 96/239/EC to exempt certain products, 

such as gelatin, tallow and bovine semen, from the prohibition; 

(18)  Whereas  the  Scientific  Veterinary  Committee  at its meeting  on  17 July  1996  endorsed 

the  report  of  the  sub-Group  for  BSE  of  26  June  1996,  where  it  recommended  that  the 

risk  assessment  for  gelatin  established  by  the  Scientific  Veterinary  Committee  on  26 

April  1996  be  reappraised  in  the  light  of  the  uncertainties  as  to  the  inactivation  of  the 

BSE agent, due note being taken of the requirements of  Decision  96/362/EEC; 

(19)  Whereas  Decision  96/362/EC  laid  down  certain  preconditions  which  had  to  be  met 

before  the  United  Kingdom  could  dispatch  from  its  territory  gelatin  made  from  raw 

materials  from  bovine animals; whereas those  preconditions  have  not been  fulfilled  and 

such  dispatch  has  not  been  authorized;  whereas,  however,  in  order  to  regularize  the 

situation,  pending  further scientific  knowledge  and advice,  it is appropriate  to withdraw 

the  possibility  of  dispatch  of  gelatin  made  from  raw  materials  from  bovine  animals 

slaughtered 

in  the  United  Kingdom  for  human  food,  animal  feed,  cosmetics, 

pharmaceutical  and  medical  purposes;  whereas  that  is  in  conformity  with  the  advice 

from  the  Multi-disciplinary  Scientific  Committee  of  3  April  1997,  according  to  which 

no production  can  be considered  safe  if the base  material  used  for gelatin  production  is 

potentially  infectious; 

(20)  Whereas  the  United  Kingdom  should  be permitted  to dispatch  from  its territory  gelatin 

and  di-calcium  phosphate  for  technical  purposes  made  from  raw  material  from  bovine 

animals slaughtered  in the United  Kingdom, provided  that it is suitably  labelled; 

(21)  Whereas  the  United  Kingdom  should  also  be  permitted  to  dispatch  from  its  territory 

gelatin  produced  from  raw material  from  bovine  animals not slaughtered  in the  United 

Kingdom; whereas the United  Kingdom has introduced a system of traceability  for such 

gelatin  to  ensure  that  the  origin  of  the  raw  material  is  identifiable;  whereas  the 

Community  rules  should  be  supplemented  by  formally  introducing  a  system  of 

traceability;  whereas  such  a system  should  be  introduced  for  other products  which  are 

exempted  from  the  overall  ban;  whereas  a  system  of  labelling  should  also  be 

introduced; 

(22)  Whereas it is necessary to provide that products from bovine animals not slaughtered  in 

the  United  Kingdom  should  come  from  approved  establishments  under  official 

veterinary  control  which  have  a  system  in  place  to  ensure  traceability  to  the  origin  of 

the  raw  materials;  whereas,  however,  dispatch  of  those  products  from  the  United 

Kingdom  may  take  place  immediately,  without  prior  inspection  by  the  Commission; 

(23)  Whereas  it  is  necessary  to  lay  down  appropriate  guarantees  for  the  dispatch  from  the 

United  Kingdom  of  certain  products  obtained  from  bovine  animals  which  were  not 

slaughtered  in the  United  Kingdom; 

(24)  Whereas  a reliable  system  of controls  throughout  the  Community  is a pre-condition  for 

the smooth  functioning  of the beef market; whereas  it is clear from  the investigations  by 

the  Unit  on  Coordination  of  Fraud  Prevention  (UCLAF)  and  the  Food  and  Veterinary 

OHice  of  the  Commission  that  there  are  deficiencies  in  official  controls  on  production 

of  beef  in  the  United  Kingdom  for dispatch  to other  Member  States and  third  countries; 

whereas  it  is,  therefore,  necessary  to  reinforce  the  system  of  veterinary  checks  in  order 

to prevent  fraud; 

(25)  Whereas  reinforced  checks  should  apply  to all  commercial  consignments  of  fresh  meat 

of  bovine  animals  moving  into,  through  or  from  the  territory  of  the  United  Kingdom; 

whereas  it  is  appropriate  to  require  that  all  such  consignments  be  sealed  and  unsealed 

by  the  competent  authority  and  accompanied  by  veterinary  certificates  and,  in  the  case 

of  intra-Community  trade,  to  require  an  official  notification  of  the  dispatch  of  a 

consignment  by  means  of  the  ANIMO  system  as  referred  to  in  Commission  Decision 

91/398/EEC  of  19 July  1991  on  a  computerised  network  linking  veterinary  authorities 

(ANIMO)" or by  fax; 

(26)  Whereas  the  veterinary  supervision  of  the  processing  of  meat  derived  from  bovine 

animals  slaughtered  elsewhere than  in the United  Kingdom  should also be  reinforced; 

(27)  Whereas the United  Kingdom  put forward  a first proposal  for  an Export  Certified  Herds 

Scheme  to  the  Commission  on  25  February  1997;  whereas  the  Scientific  Veterinary 

13 

OJ No  L 221, 9.8.1991, p. 30. 

Committee  concluded  at  its  meeting  of  II  June  1997  that  that  proposal  was  not 

adequate;  whereas  the  United  Kingdom  put  forward  a  modified  proposal  dated  1 July 

1997;  whereas  the  Scientific  Veterinary  Committee  issued  an  opinion  on  that  revised 

proposal on  17 September  1997 stating that the major obstacle to approving the scheme 

for  the  entire  territory  of  the  United  Kingdom  was  the  lack  of  a  comprehensive 

computerised  movement  and tracing  system  and  associated  database  for  live  cattle  in 

Great  Britain  but  that  an  adequate  system  did  appear  to  exist  in  Northern  Ireland; 

whereas the Committee concluded furthermore  that small modifications  could  be made 

to  minor  aspects  of  the  scheme  at  the  request  of  the  competent  Commission 

departments in order to comply with certification  or control  requirements; whereas the 

Food and  Veterinary Office  conducted  a feasibility  inspection  in Northern  Ireland  from 

3  to  7  November  1997;  whereas  the  United  Kingdom  has  agreed  to  further 

improvements  in  line  with  the  recommendations  made  following  that  inspection; 

whereas, therefore, a partial  lifting of the prohâwtion <m the dispatch  of products  from 

bovine animals slaughtered in Northern Ireland is appropriate; 

{28)  Whereas  inspections  carried  out  by  the  Commission  services  have  shown  that  the 

system of veterinary checks m Northern Ireland is more effective;  whereas, therefore, a 

stcp4>y-s1ep approach is -appropriate, starting; with the ïiftiag of the prohibrtfons on the 

dispatch  of  products  from  bovine  animals  slaughtered,  cut,  processed  ^tnd  stored  in 

estaMisbments exclusively  used  for  products  destined  for  dispatch  to  oilier  Member 

States  and  third  countries,  located in  Northern  Ireland; whereas  subsequent  steps will 

include  the  lifting  of the prohibition  on the processing of oligible meat  from  Northern 

Ireland  in  Great  Britain,  under  conditions  which  wiîl  be  laid  down  at  a  later  stage; 

wliereas the  Commission  will  immediately  start  investigating,  with  the  authorities  of 

the United Kingdom, by what means and under what conditions those restrictions may 

be farther relaxed; 

(29)  Whereas in order to prevent  fraud  meat derived  from bovine animals slaughtered in the 

United  Kingdom  should  bear,  in  addition  to  the  health  mark  provided  for  in  Article 

3(l)(A)(e) of Council  Directive 64/433/JvlvC of 26 June  1964 on  health  conditions  for 

(he production  and marketing of  fresh  meat 

, as  last amended  by  Directive  95/23/EC15, 

a distinct  mark which cannot  be confused  with the Community  health mark; 

(30)  Whereas  most  of  the  provisions  of  Decision  94/474/EC  are  no  longer  in  conformity 

with  the  opinion  of  the  Scientific  Veterinary  Committee  of  17  September  1997  and 

should therefore be deleted; 

(31)  Whereas  Decision  96/239/1 {C required  the  United  Kingdom  to  provide  reports  on  the 

BSE situation  every  two  weeks; whereas that period  has been  found  to be too short and 

should  be extended  to one month; 

(32)  Whereas  the  Commission  should  continue  to  carry  out  Community  inspections  in  the 

United  Kingdom  to verify  the application of the measures provided  for in this  Decision; 

(33)  Whereas  the  foregoing  entails  a  fundamental  reworking  of  Decision  96/239/EC; 

whereas, in the interests of clarity, that Decision should be repealed; 

(34)  Whereas this Decision  will  be reviewed  in the light of new scientific  information; 

(35)  Whereas the Standing  Veterinary  Committee  has not given a favourable opinion, 

14 
'• 

OJ  121,29.7.1964, p.  2012/64 
OJ  L 2 4 3,  11.10.1995, p. 7. 

10 

HAS  AIXXPTED THIS DECISION: 

(TIAI'TKKI 

Live bovine animals, bovine embryos, mcat-and-bonc meal and  related  products 

Article 1 

Pending  an overall  examination  of  the situation,  and notwithstanding  Community  provisions 

adopted  to  protect  against  USE,  the  United  Kingdom  shall  ensure  that  the  following  are  not 

dispatched  from  its territory  to other Member States or to third countries: 

(a) 

live bovine animals and bovine embryos; 

(b) 

(e) 

meat meal, bone meal, and meat-and-bone meal of mammalian origin; 

animal feed and fertilizers containing material referred to in (b). 

Aâ3cje_2 

By  way  of  derogation  from  Article  1,  food  destined  for  domestic  carnivores  containing 

material  referred  to  in  Article  I  (b)  may  be  dispatched  to  other  Member  Slates  or  to  third 

countries  provided  that those  materials did  not  originate  from  the  United  Kingdom  and  that 

the conditions  laid down  in Articles 9 and  10 are complied  with. 

li 

CHAPTER II 

Materials derived from bovine animals slaughtered in the United Kingdom 

Article 3 

Pending an overall  examination  of the situation, and  notwithstanding  Community  provisions 

adopted  to  protect  against  BSE, the  United  Kingdom  shall  ensure that  the  following  are not 

dispatched  from  its territory  to other Member States or to third countries, when derived  from 

bovine animals slaughtered  in the United  Kingdom: 

(a) 

(b) 

(e) 

meal; 

products which arc liable to enter the human food or animal  feed chains; 

materials which are destined for use in cosmetics or medical or pharmaceutical 

products. 

Article 4 

I. 

By  way  of  derogation  from  Article  3,  the  United  Kingdom  may  authorize  the 

production and the dispatch  from  its territory  to other Member States or to third countries of: 

(a) 

amino acids, peptides and  tallow,  which  have  been  produced  in  establishments 

under  official  veterinary  supervision  which  have  been  shown  to  be  operating  in 

accordance with the conditions set out in Annex I; 

(b) 

tallow  products  and  products  derived  from 

tallow  by  saponification, 

transesterification  or hydrolysis, where these are manufactured  from  tallow  produced 

in accordance with this Article. 

12 

2. 

The  United  Kingdom  shall  ensure  that  the  products  referred  to  in  paragraph  1 are 

labelled  or otherwise  identified  to  show  the  establishment  of  production  and  to  indicate  that 

they  are suitable  for use  in human  food, animal  feed, cosmetics  or medical  or  pharmaceutical 

products. 

3. 

I he  United  Kingdom  shall  ensure  that  products  referred  to  in  paragraph  1 (a)  which 

are dispatched  to other  Member  States  in accordance  with  this  Article  are accompanied  by a 

health certificate  issued  by an official  veterinarian  stating  that they conform  to the  conditions 

laid down  in this Decision  and attesting to the  frequency  of official  controls carried out. 

4. 

Before  an  establishment  may  commence  or  recommence  the  dispatch  of  products 

pursuant  to this  Article,  the  United  Kingdom  shall  forward  to the Commission  and the  other 

Member  States  the  list  of  the  establishments  referred  to  in  paragraph  1 (a),  identifying  for 

each  establishment  the  purpose  for  which  it  has  been  approved.  It  shall  notify  the 

Commission  and the other Member States immediately  of any amendments to that list. 

5. 

Community  inspections  shall  be carried out on the implementation  of official  controls 

in  respect  of  each  of  the  products  referred  to  in  paragraph  1  before  the  dispatch  of  those 

products may commence  or recommence. 

6. 

The  Commission,  after  having  consulted  the  Member  States  in  the  framework  of  the 

Standing Veterinary  Committee, shall set the date on which establishments may commence or 

recommence dispatch of the products referred to in paragraph  1  (a). 

Article 5 

he United  Kingdom  shall  ensure that gelatin, di-calcium phosphate, collagen,  tallow, 

tallow  products  and  products  derived 

from 

tallow  by  saponification, 

transesterilication or hydrolysis which are produced  for technical  use  from raw 

materials derived  from  bovine  animals slaughtered  in the  United  Kingdom are 

13 

labelled  or  otherwise  identified  to  show  the  establishment  of  production  and 

their  unsuilability  for  use  in  human  food,  animal  feed,  cosmetics  or 

medical  or  pharmaceutical  products. 

Article 6 

1. 

By  way  of derogation  from  Article  3, the  United  Kingdom  may  authorize  the  dispatch 

to  other  Member  Slates  or  to  third  countries  of  the  following  products  derived  from  bovine 

animals  born and  reared  in Northern  Ireland  which  have been  slaughtered  in  Northern  Ireland 

in  slaughterhouses  exclusively  used  for  that  purpose,  in  accordance  with  the  conditions  laid 

down  in this Article, Article  7, Articles 9 to  12 and Annex II: 

(a) 

kfresh  meat'  as defined  by  Directive  64/433/EEC; 

(b) 

'minced  meal1  and 

'meat  preparations'  as  defined  by  Council  Directive 

94/65/1 •C"'; 

(c) 

'meat  products'  as defined  by Council  Directive  77/99/EEC'7; 

2. 

The  fresh  meat  referred  to in paragraph  1  (a) shall  be deboned  and  all  adherent  tissues, 

including  obvious  nervous  and  lymphatic  tissues  shall  be  removed  in  cutting  plants  in 

Northern  Ireland,  exclusively  used  for  eligible  products.  Cold  storage  shall  take  place  in 

Northern  Ireland  in  chambers  exclusively  used  for  eligible  products.  Cutting,  storage  and 

transport  shall  be  carried  out  in  accordance  with  the  conditions  laid  down  in  this  Article, 

Article  7, Articles 9 to  12 and  Annex  II. 

3. 

The  fresh  meal  referred  to  in  paragraph  1  (a)  may  be  used  for  the  production  of 

products  referred  to  in  paragraph  1  (b)  and  (c)  in  establishments  in  Northern  Ireland 

16 
17 

OJ No  L 368, 31.12.1994, p.10. 
OJ No  L 26, 31.1.1977, p.85. 

14 

exclusively  used  for  eligible  products,  in  accordance  with  the  conditions  laid  down  in  this 

Article,  in Article 7, Articles 9 to  12 and Annex II. 

4. 

l'or  the  purposes  of  this  Article,  eligible  products  means  products  referred  to  in 

paragraph  1  and  products  derived  from  bovine  animals  not  slaughtered  in  the  United 

Kingdom  which comply  with the conditions laid down in Article 9 to  13. 

5. 

The  Commission,  after  having  carried  out  Community  inspections  and  after  having 

informed  the  Member  States,  shall  set the date on  which dispatch  of the products  referred  to 

in paragraph  1 may commence. 

6. 

The  Commission  shall  review  the  provisions  of  this  Article  at  least  every  three 

months  and  shall  take  appropriate  measures  in  accordance  with  the  procedure  laid  down  in 

Article  18 of Directive 89/662/EEC. 

Article 7 

1. 

The  meat and products referred  to in Article  6(1)  shall  be marked or labelled  with an 

additional  distinct mark which cannot be confused  with the Community  health mark. 

2. 

Meat and products as referred  to in Article  6(1)  which are destined  for placing  on the 

market  in the  I Jnited  Kingdom  shall  not bear the additional  mark referred  to  in paragraph  1 of 

this  Arlicle.  Where such  a mark  is present,  it shall  be cancelled  or removed  from  the  meal  or 

cancelled  from  the  label  at the time  that  meat  or those  products  leave  the establishment.  The 

Community  health mark  shall  not be removed  except where that is unavoidable  in the cutting 

process. 

3. 

The  United  Kingdom  shall  forward  to  the  Commission  and the  other  Member  States 

the model  of the additional  mark referred to in paragraph  1 before dispatch commences. 

CHAPTER HI 

Materials derived from bovine animals not slaughtered  in the United Kingdom 

Article 8 

The  United  Kingdom  shall  ensure  that  the  provisions  of  Articles  9 to  13 are complied  with 

when  the  following  products  derived  from  bovine  animals  not  slaughtered  in  the  United 

Kingdom are dispatched  from  its territory to other Member Stales or to third countries: 

(a) 

'fresh  meat' as defined  by Directive 64/433/EEC; 

(b) 

'minced  meat'  and  'meat  preparations'  as  defined  by  Council  Directive 

94/65/1 vC; 

(c) 

'meat  products"  and  'other  products  of  animal  origin'  as  defined  by  Council 

Directive 77/99/EEC; 

(d)food  which is destined  for domestic carnivores; 

(e) 

gelatin  and  di-calcium  phosphate,  tallow,  tallow  products,  and  products 

derived  from  tallow by saponification,  transesterification  or hydrolysis, amino 

acids, peptides and collagen which are liable to enter the human food or animal 

feed  chains, or are destined  for  use in cosmetics or medical  or  pharmaceutical 

products. 

16 

Article 9 

I. 

The  products  referred  to in Article  8 shall  come  from and, as appropriate,  have  passed 

through, establishments  in the United  Kingdom: 

(a) 

which  have been approved by the competent authority; 

(b) 

which are under official  veterinary  supervision or, in the case of products 

derived  from tallow by saponification,  Iranscslerifixation or hydrolysis, under 

the supervision of the competent authority; 

(e)  which  have  put  in  place  a  system  of  tracing  of  the  raw  material  which  will 

guarantee the origin of the material throughout the whole production chain; 

(d)  which  have  put  in  place  a  registration  system  of  amounts  of  incoming  and 

outgoing  materials to allow  for cross-checking consignments entering or leaving; 

(e) 

in  which  the  products  are  unloaded,  processed,  stored,  handled,  loaded  and 

transported  separately  from, or at different  times  from,  products  which do  not comply 

with the conditions  laid down  in this Article and Articles  10,  11 and  12. 

2. 

The  United  Kingdom  shall  forward  to  the Commission  and the other  Member  States 

the list of establishments which meet the conditions referred to in paragraph  1, identifying  for 

each  establishment  the  purpose  for  which  it  has  been  approved.  It  shall  notify  the 

Commission  and the Member States immediately  of any amendments to that list. 

17 

Article  K> 

1. 

Products  referred  to  in  Article  8  (a)  to  (d)  shall  come  from  and, as  appropriate,  have 

passed  through establishments  in the United Kingdom: 

(a) 

in  which  all  unloading,  processing,  storage  or  other  handling  and  loading  of 

products takes place under official  supervision; 

(b) 

in which  the products are stored  in cold  stores  in chambers which  are not  used 

at the same time  for storing any  bovine products which do not comply  with the 

conditions  laid  down  in  this  Article,  in  Articles  9,  11,  12 and  13 and  are  kept 

locked  under the seal of the competent authority  when the latter is not present; 

(c) 

in which  the products, with the exception  of the products  referred  to  in Article 

8  (d), are marked or labelled  with an additional  distinct  mark  which  cannot  be 

confused  with the Community  health mark; 

(d) 

in  which  the  products  eligible  for  dispatch  from  the  United  Kingdom  under 

this  Article  and  Articles  9,  11,  12  and  13,  but  destined  for  placing  on  the 

market  in  the  United  Kingdom  do  not  bear the  additional  mark  referred  to  in 

point (c).  Where such a mark  is present,  it shall  be cancelled  or removed  from 

the  meat  or  cancelled  from  the  label  at  the  time  that  meat  or  those  products 

leave the establishment. 

The  United  Kingdom  shall  forward  to  the  Commission  and  the  other  Member  States  the 

model of the additional  mark. 

18 

2. 

lor  the  purposes of  the  health  marking  and  application  of  additional  marks  provided 

for  in  Community  legislation,  the  competent  authority  shall  keep  and  maintain  under  its 

responsibility: 

(a) 

the instruments intended  for meat  health marking and application  of additional 

marks,  which  may  be  handed  over  to  auxiliaries  only  at  time  of  marking  and  for  the 

length of time required  for that purpose; 

(b) 

any  labels  bearing  a  health  mark  or an  additional  mark.  Those  labels  shall  be 

serially  numbered and the requisite quantity  shall  may be given to auxiliaries at the time 

when they are to be used. 

3. 

The products referred  to  in paragraph  1 shall  be transported  in means of transport that 

are sealed  by the competent authority. 

When those products are dispatched to other Member States, they shall  be accompanied  by a 

health certificate  issued  by an official  veterinarian staling that the conditions  referred  to in 

this Article and Articles 9,  II,  12 and  13 are met, identifying  all establishments  where they 

were obtained,  processed,  handled or stored and identifying  all  labels and their serial  numbers 

in the consignment. 

Meat shall be accompanied by the health certificate  referred to in Annex IV to Directive 

64/43 3/EEC identifying  in the "Identification  of Meat" section of the certificate  all  labels 

and their serial  numbers in the consignment. 

The following  words shall be added to all  certificates: 

'produced  in accordance with Commission  Decision  [98/../I.ÏC]' 

4. 

The  United  Kingdom  shall  inform  the competent  authority  of the place  of  destination 

of each consignment  by means of the ANIMO system or by fax. 

19 

Article 

Without  prejudice to Article  7 (2) and Article  10(1)  (d), where products referred  to  in Article 

8  (a)  come  from  and,  as  appropriate,  have  passed  through  establishments  in  the  United 

Kingdom,  (he  health  marks  shall  not  be  removed  except  where  that  is  unavoidable  in  the 

cutting  process. 

Article  12 

The products referred  to in Article  8 (e) which are dispatched  to other Member States shall  be 

labelled  in  order  to  identify  the  establishment  of  production  and  to  indicate  that  they  have 

been  produced  in accordance  with this  Decision  and, as appropriate,  that they are suitable  for 

use  in human  food, animal  Iced, cosmetics or medical  or pharmaceutical  products. 

Article  13 

1. 

A  Member  State  which  dispatches  meat  as  referred  to  in  Article  8  (a)  from  an 

establishment  or  Community  approved  border  inspection  post  in  its  territory  through  the 

territory of the United  Kingdom or to an establishment approved  in accordance  with  Article  9 

shall  ensure  that  the  meat  is  accompanied  by  a  veterinary  certificate  issued  by  an  official 

veterinarian or the certificate  issued  by the competent authority of the border inspection post. 

The  originals  of  all  certificates  shall  accompany  the  consignment  to  the  establishment  of  its 

destination. 

2. 

The  meat  as  referred  to  in  Article  8  (a)  shall  be  transported  in  an  officially  sealed 

vehicle. 

20 

The seal  may  be broken only  for official  inspection purposes. 

3. 

A  Member  Stale  which  dispatches  products  referred  to  in  Article  8  (e)  or  any  raw 

materials  for  use  in  the  production  of  those  products  to  an  establishment  approved  in 

accordance  with  Article  9  shall  ensure  that they  are  labelled  or otherwise  identified  to  show 

the establishment and Member State in which they were produced. 

21 

UIAI'TKK IV 

Final provisions 

Article 14 

The Commission  shall carry out Community  inspections on-the-spot  in the United  Kingdom 

to  verify  the  application  of  the  provisions  of  this  Decision,  in  particular  in  relation  to  the 

implementation of official  controls. 

Artklc 15 

The  United  Kingdom  shall  send  the Commission  every  month  a report on  the application  of 

the  protective  measures  taken  against  BSE,  in  accordance  with  national  and  Community 

provisions. 

Article 16 

This  Decision  shall  be  reviewed  regularly  in  the  light  of  new  scientific  information.  This 

Decision  shall  be  amended,  where  appropriate,  after  consultation  of  the  appropriate 

Scientific  Committee, in accordance with the procedure laid down  in Article  18 of  Directive 

89/662/EEC. 

Article 17 

Member States shall adopt the necessary measures to comply with this Decision.  They shall 

immediately  inform the Commission thereof. 

7.2 

Article 18 

Decision  94/474/EC  is hereby amended as  follows: 

( I ) 

Article  1 shall  be deleted. 

(2) 

In Article 3, paragraphs  I and 2 shall  be deleted. 

(3) 

Article 4 shall  be deleted. 

Decision  96/239/EC  is hereby repealed. 

Article  19 

Article 20 

This Decision  is addressed to the Member States. 

Done at Brussels, 

For the Council 

23 

ANNEX I 

Chapter 1 

1. 

The following  products may be exported from the United Kingdom in application of the 
provisions of Articles 4 to 7: 

(a)  amino  acids  and  peptides  produced  from  hides  and  skins  by  a process  which  involves 
exposure  of the material  to a pH of  1 to 2,  followed  by  a pH of >11,  followed  by  heat 
treatment at  140°C for 30 minutes at 3 bar; 

(b)  tallow  and  tallow  products  produced  from  material  from  animals  lit  for  human 
consumption  which has been subjected to one of the processes described  in Chapter 2; 

(c)  products derived  from tallow by one of the processes described  in Chapter 3. 

Products referred to in point  I  must be filtered after production. 

Bovine  animals  which  are  showing  signs  of  BSE  and  animals  over  30  months  of  age 
may not be  used  as source  materials  (as provided  for by  Commission  Regulation  (EC) 
No 716/96) 

for production of the products referred to in point 1 

The  following  tissues may  not be used for production of products referred  to  in point 1 
skull, vertebral column, brain, spinal cord, eye, tonsil, thymus, intestine or spleen. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

OJL 99, 20.4.1996, p. 14 

o2V 

Chapter  2 

Production  standards  for  tallow  produced  in  the  United  Kingdom  from  material 

A. 
derived  from  bovine  animals  slaughtered  in  the  United  Kingdom 

I. 
the Annex  to 
the  Annex  to Commission  Decision  92/562/EEC 
are achieved: 

fallow  may  be  produced  only  in  systems  described  in  Chapters  I to  IV,  VI  and  VII  of 

7 I 

, in which  the  following  minimum  conditions 

CHAPTER  I 

(Batch/Atmospheric/Natural  Fat) 
150 mm  particle  size  maximum 

Temperature 
Time 

>100°C 
125 min 

>110°C 
120 min 

>120°C 
50min 

CHAPTER  II  (Batch/Pressure/Natural  Pat) 
50  mm  particle  size  minimum 

Temperature 
lime 
Pressure (absolute) 

MX)°C 

25  min 

133°C 

20  min 
3 bar 

CHAPTER  III  (Continuous/Atmospheric/Natural  Pat) 

30 mm  particle size  maximum 

Temperature 
Time 

>100°C 
95  min 

>110°C 
55 min 

>120°C 
13  min 

CHAPTER  IV  (Continuous/Atmospheric/Added  Fat and Continuous/Pressure/Added  Fat) 
A ND  VI 

30  mm  particle size  maximum 

Temperature 
rime 

> 100°C 
16 min 

> 110°C 
13 min 

> 120°C 
8  min 

> 130°C 
3  min 

CHAPTER  VII(Continuou.s/Atnu>spheric/Defatted) 

20  mm  particle size  maximum 

Temperature 
Time 

>80°C 
120 min 

>100°C 
60  min 

21 

O JL  359,9.12.1992,  p.  23. 

25 

The above temperature/lime requirements  may  run concurrently. 

The  United  Kingdom  may  authorize  plants  only  if  they  have  been  shown  by 
2. 
methods  laid  down  in  Section  B  to  be  operating  in  accordance  with  the  conditions  set 
out  in point  1. 

Batch systems which achieve the parameters  laid down  in point 2 for  continuous 
3. 
systems  operating  in  accordance  with  Chapters  III,  IV,  VI  or  VII  may  also  be 
authorized. 

B. 
Procedures for the validation  of plants for the processing of animal waste  of 
ruminant  origin  for  the  production  of  tallow  in  the  United  Kingdom,  using 
methods described  in the Annex to Decision  92/562/EEC 

1. 

Temperature  - continuous and batch  systems 

Temperature  monitoring  devices  must  be  situated  regularly  throughout  the 
equipment  in  order  to  record  temperature  at  different  stages  in  the  process.  Records 
should  be kept and calibrations completed  at regular intervals. 

2. 

Pressure (Chapter  II only) 

Pressure  monitoring  devices  must  be  installed  in  order  to  record  pressure  at 
stages  in  the  process.  Records  must  be  kept  and  calibrations  completed  at  regular 
intervals. 

3. 

Particle size - all  systems 

Jlo 

Chapter 3 

Human food, animal feed, medical or pharmaceutical  products, their starting 

materials or intermediate products 

fallow  derivatives may be used provided that they are produced by an appropriate, 

validated and strictly certified  method such as: 

1.  T ransesterilication or hydrolysis at not less than 200°C for not less than 20 

minutes under pressure (glycerol, fatty acids and fatty acid esters production); or, 

2.  Saponification  with NaOH  12 M (glycerol and soap production): 

in a batch process: at not less than 95"C for not less than 3 hours; or, 

in a continuous process: at not less than  140°C, 2 bars for not less than 8 

minutes, or equivalent. 

Cosmetic products, starting materials or intermediate products 

fallow  derivatives may be used provided that the following  methods have been used 

and strictly certified  by the producer: 

1. 'I ransesterilication or I Iydrolysis at at least 200°C, 40 bars for 20 minutes 

(glycerol and fatty acids and esters); or, 

2.  Saponification  with NaOH  12M (glycerol and soap): 

in a batch process: at 95°C for 3 hours; or, 

in a continuous process: at  140°C, 2 bars for 8 minutes or equivalent. 

n 

A1NNKX  II 

1. 

I )choncd  fresh  meat  and  products  referred  to in Article 6 ( I ) (b) and  (c)  from 

thai  meal  derived  from  bovine animals slaughtered  in  Northern  Ireland  may  be 

dispatched  from  Northern  Ireland  in application  of the provisions of Article 6  when 

obtained  from  eligible animals which originate  from  eligible  herds. 

Eligible  herds 

2. 

A herd  is a group of animals  forming  a separate and  distinct  unit, that  is a 

group of animals  which  were managed,  housed  and  kept separately  from  any  other 

group of animals and  which  were  identilied  with  unique  herd and  animal 

identification  numbers. 

3. 

A herd  is eligible  when  for at  least  8 years, there has been  no confirmed  case 

of  BSK, nor a suspect  ease  for  which  the diagnosis of  BSli has not  been  ruled  out,  in 

any  animal  which  was still  in or had  moved  through  or  from  the  herd. 

4. 

As an exception  to the provisions  in point  2, a herd that  has been  in  existence 

for  less than  8 years may  be considered  eligible, after  a thorough  epidemiological 

investigation  by  the competent  veterinary  authority, on condition  that: 

(a) 

all  animals  born  or moved  into the newly  established  herd  complied 

with  the conditions  set out  in point 6 (a), (c), (d) and  (e); and, 

(b) 

the herd  has complied  with  the conditions  set out  in point  3 during  its 

entire  existence. 

5. 

If a herd  is newly  established  on a holding  which  experienced  a  confirmed 

case of  BSK  in any  animal  which  was still  in or had  moved  through  or from  a herd  on 

that holding, the newly  established  herd can only be eligible after  a thorough 

epidemiological  investigation  by the competent veterinary  authority, taking  into 

account  compliance  with each of the following  conditions to the satisfaction  of the 

competent  veterinary  authority: 

âr 

(a)  all animals of the affected  herd  have been  removed  or  killed; 

(b)  all  feed  has been  removed  and destroyed  and all  feed  containers thoroughly 

cleansed; 

(c)  all  buildings  have  been emptied  and  thoroughly  cleansed  before  the  new 

animals  were  admitted; 

(d)  all conditions  set out  in point 4 have  been complied  with. 

Eligible  animals 

6. 

A bovine animal  is eligible  if it has been born and  reared  in Northern  Ireland 

and  at  the time of  slaughter: 

(a)  all  records of  its birth,  identity  and  movements arc recorded  on an  official 

computerised  tracing  system; 

(b)  it  is more than  6 months  but  less than  30 months of age, determined  by 

reference  to an official  computer  record  of its date of  birth; 

(c)  its dam  has  lived  for at  least 6 months after  its birth; 

(d)  its dam  has not developed  BSE and  is not suspected  of having  contracted 

BSli; 

(e)  the herd  of birth  of the animal  and  all  herds through  which  it has ever  moved 

are eligible. 

7. 

The official  computerised  tracing  system  referred  to in point  6 (a) will  be 

accepted  only  where  it has been  in operation  for sufficient  lime to contain  all  the 

information  relating  to the  lifetime  and  movements  of the animals  needed  to check 

compliance  with  the requirements  of this  Decision, and  only  in respect  of  animals 

born  after  the system  came  into operation.  Historical  data  loaded  into a computer  for 

any  period  before  the system  was operational  will  not be accepted  for  this  purpose. 

Controls 

8. 

If any animal  presented  for  slaughter or any circumstance  surrounding  its 

slaughter  does  not  meet all  of the requirements  of this Decision,  the animal  must  be 

J9 

automatically  rejected.  If that  information  becomes available after  slaughter,  the 

competent  authority  must  immediately  cease  issuing certificates,  and  cancel  issued 

certificates.  If dispatch  has already  taken  place, the competent  authority  must  notify 

the competent  authority  of the place ol  destination.  The competent  authority  of the 

place of destination  must  take the appropriate  measures. 

(). 

Slaughter of eligible animals  must  take place  in slaughterhouses  exclusively 

used  for that  purpose. Cutting, deboning  and  processing  must take place in 

establishments  exclusively  used  for  products  which are eligible  for dispatch  to other 

Member  Slates or third  countries. Cold  storage  must  lake  place  in chambers, 

exclusively  used  for  products  which  are eligible  for dispatch  to other  Member  States 

or  third  countries.  All establishments  through  which  the products pass before  such 

dispatch  must  be situated  in Northern  Ireland. 

10. 

The competent  authority  must ensure that  procedures  used  in the cutting  plants 

ensure  thai the  following  lymph  nodes have  been  removed: 

Popliteal,  ischiatic, superficial  inguinal, deep  inguinal,  medial  and  lateral  iliac, 

renal  prefemoral,  lumbar, costocervical, sternal, prescapular, axilliary  and 

caudal  deep cervical. 

11.  Meat  must  be traceable  back  to the herd of the eligible animal  by  means of the 

computerised  tracing  system  until the time of slaughter.  After  slaughter,  labels  must 

be capable  of tracing  fresh  meat and  products referred  to in  Article 6 ( 1 ) (b) and  (c) 

back  to the herd  to enable the consignment  concerned  to be recalled. 

12. 

All  approved  eligible carcasses  must  have  individual  numbers correlated  with 

the ear  tag  number. 

13. 

The  I Inited  Kingdom  must  have detailed  protocols  in place  covering: 

(a)  tracing and  controls  prior to  slaughter; 

(b)  controls during  slaughter; 

(c)  all  labelling and certification  requirements  after  slaughter to the point of sale. 

i o 

14. 

The competent  authority  must  set  up a system  for  recording checks on 

compliance  so that control  can  be  demonstrated. 

The  establishment 

15. 

To obtain  approval, the establishment  must,  in addition  to all  other 

requirements  of this  Decision, devise  and  implement  a system  whereby  the  eligible 

meat  and/or eligible  product  is identifiable  and  all  meat  or  products can  be traced  back 

to its herds of origin. The system  must  facilitate  lull  traceability oflhe  meal  or 

products at all  stages and  records  must  be retained  for at  least  two years.  Details of  the 

system  to be employed  must  be given,  in writing, by the management  oflhe 

establishment  to the competent  authority. 

16. 

The competent  authority  must assess, approve and  monitor  the  system 

provided  by the establishment  in order to ensure that  it provides full  segregation  and 

traceability  both backwards and  forwards. 

3i 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(98)  161  final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

03  05  02  15 

Catalogue  number  :  CB-CO-98-153-EN-C 

ISBN  92-78-31965-1 

Office  foi Official  Publications  of  the  European  Communities 

L-2985  Luxembourg 

2SL