WRITTEN QUESTION E-0097/01 by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission. BSE: meat and bone meal.
Date: 2001-01-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Galicia, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, carcase, cereal substitute, environmental law, health risk, occupational safety, unauthorised dumping, veterinary legislation, waste management

21.8.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 235 E/117

Reply

(14 May 2001)

Since the beginning of the process of development of ESDP, the European Council has consistently
confirmed that the Union(cid:146)s actions in the field of crisis management will be decided in conformity with the
principles of the United Charter, the OSCE Charter and the Helsinki Final Act. The European Union
recognises the primary responsibility of the United Nations Security Council for the maintenance of
international peace and security.

(2001/C 235 E/123)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0097/01

by Rosa MiguØlez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(29 January 2001)

Subject: BSE: meat and bone meal

At the very end of the year 2000 the carcasses of 300 head of cattle were dumped in an open quarry in
the Galician town of Mes(cid:237)a which had been neither waterproofed nor designed to house such waste. This
act followed a similar deposit of more than 50 tonnes of meal banned by the European Union and
produced from Group A animals.

Unbeknown to the local residents, the carcasses and the sacks containing the meal were transported in
vehicles not designed for that purpose. This has provoked great alarm amongst the residents, who do not
know what effect this might have on their health and the health of those who have come into contact with
the waste.

In view of the aforementioned facts, on the basis of the information available to it, will the Commission
say what risks are posed to the health of the people involved in transporting meat and bone meal from
Group A animals and risk material?

Given the uncertainty as to where this meat and bone meal came from and where it first originated, will
the Commission give details of the EU Member States to which meat and bone meal from the United
Kingdom was exported during the period in which the said meal had already been banned but continued
to be produced nonetheless?

Has the Commission introduced rules governing the transportation of meat and bone meal which is to be
disposed of, the features required of the vehicles involved, the protective measures to be taken by those
people assigned to transport such meal, and the means of disposing of it?

Does it believe that the existence of an open deposit of tonnes of meal for which no prior precautions
have been taken poses a health risk to the residents of Mes(cid:237)a? In its view, what measures ought to be taken
to minimise that risk?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(27 March 2001)

On 26/27 October 2000, the Scientific Steering Committee adopted preliminary notes on the safe
handling, transport and storage of possible bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) (cid:129) meat-and-bone
meal, which may be contaminated with a BSE agent or other pathogens. These notes, which indicate the
principal requirements to minimise the risk associated with storage of this material, are available on
Internet at the following address:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/ssc.

Details on direct exports of meat-and-bone meal from the United Kingdom to all Member States and third
countries are widely available and have been reported in the public domain. The Commission will send
these details directly to the Honourable Member.

C 235 E/118

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.8.2001

The following Community legislation currently applies on production, transportation and disposal of meat-
and-bone meal:

(cid:129) Council Directive 90/667/EEC of 27 November 1990 (1) laying down the veterinary rules for the

disposal and processing of animal waste, for its placing on the market;

(cid:129) Commission Decision 97/735/EC of 21 October 1997 (2) concerning certain protection measures with

regard to trade in certain types of mammalian waste;

(cid:129) Council Decision 1999/534/EC of 19 July 1999 (3) on measures applying to the processing of certain

animal waste to protect against transmissible spongiform encephalopathies;

(cid:129) Commission Decision 2000/418/EC of 29 June 2000 (4) regulating the use of material presenting risks

as regards transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.

intended for human consumption (5)

The proposal for a Regulation of the Parliament and the Council laying down the health rules concerning
lays down detailed conditions for the
animal by-products not
production, storage, transportation and disposal of meat-and-bone meal. This proposal implements the
most recent scientific advice in this area. In line with this proposal for a Regulation, meat-and-bone meal
which is unfit for consumption under a strategy to prevent a disease, has to be disposed of as waste, thus
complying with the waste legislation, particularly with Council Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July 1975 on
waste (6) and Council Directive 91/689/EEC of 12 December 1991, on hazardous waste (7), and they should
be classified according to the list of hazardous waste, Council Decision 94/904/EC of 22 December 1994
establishing a list of hazardous waste pursuant to Article 1(4) of Council Directive 91/689/EEC on
hazardous waste (8), under the category (cid:145)waste whose collection and disposal are subject
to special
requirements in view of the prevention of infection(cid:146). This meat-and-bone meal would be classified as
hazardous waste unless they are pre-treated following the process for the inactivation of the infectious
agents, as laid down by the Council Decision 1999/534/EC of 19 July 1999 on measures applying to the
processing of certain animal waste to protect against transmissible spongiform encephalopathies and
amending Commission Decision 97/735/EC (3). Once thus pre-treated, the meat-and bone-meal can be
considered as non hazardous waste within the meaning of the environmental legislation.

Directive 2000/54/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 18 September 2000 (9) lays down minimum
provisions on the protection of workers against risks to their health and safety, including the prevention of
such risks, arising or likely to arise from exposure to biological agents including unconventional agents
associated with the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.

(1) OJ L 363, 27.12.1990. Directive as last amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden.
(2) OJ L 294, 28.10.1997. Decision as last amended by Decision 1999/534/EC.
(3) OJ L 204, 4.8.1999.
(4) OJ L 158, 30.6.2000. Decision last amended by Commission Decision 2001/2/EC (OJ L 1, 4.1.2001).
(5) COM(2000) 574 final.
(6) OJ L 194, 25.7.1975.
(7) OJ L 377, 31.12.1991.
(8) OJ L 356, 31.12.1994.
(9) OJ L 262, 17.10.2000.

(2001/C 235 E/124)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0099/01

by Rosa MiguØlez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(29 January 2001)

Subject: BSE: compensation for cattle farmers

The various measures taken to protect consumer health in response to BSE include withdrawing and
slaughtering cattle over the age of 30 months which are considered specified risk material (SRM). Although
the decision in question has been taken at Community level, the task of implementing it falls to the
national governments. This situation is giving rise to disparities, depending on the national (or regional)