CELEX: 32005R1974
Language: en
Date: 2005-12-02
Title: Commission Regulation (EC) No 1974/2005 of  2 December 2005  amending Annexes X and XI to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards national reference laboratories and specified risk material   (Text with EEA relevance)

3.12.2005   
            
            
               EN
            
            
               Official Journal of the European Union
            
            
               L 317/4
            
         
      COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1974/2005
   of 2 December 2005
   amending Annexes X and XI to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards national reference laboratories and specified risk material
   (Text with EEA relevance)
   THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
   Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
   Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (1), and in particular the first paragraph of Article 23 thereof,
   Whereas:
   
               (1)
            
            
               Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 sets out a list of designated national reference laboratories for Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs).
            
         
               (2)
            
            
               Certain Member States have notified to the Commission changes in the name or address of their national reference laboratories, therefore the list of those laboratories should be updated.
            
         
               (3)
            
            
               Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 designates certain bovine tissues as specified risk materials and lays down the rules for its removal.
            
         
               (4)
            
            
               Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 provides that export of specified risk material is prohibited but can be authorised only with view to their final destruction. Transitional measures set out in Annex XI to that Regulation provide that carcases, half-carcases or quarters containing no specified risk material other than vertebral column, may be dispatched to another Member State, where the vertebral column is to be removed in accordance with Community legislation. Such removal is not certain in case of exports to third countries. For food safety reasons, such an exception should not be allowed for exports of specified risk material to third countries.
            
         
               (5)
            
            
               In its opinion of 9 December 1997 the Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) suggested a list of specified risk materials (SRM) in bovine animals to be excluded from human and animal consumption on the basis of relative tissue infectivity, species and age. This opinion was revised and updated by SSC opinions on Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) risk on February 1998, on the human exposure risk via food with respect to BSE in December 1999, on the oral exposure of humans to the BSE agent in April 2000 and on TSE infectivity distribution in ruminant tissues in January 2002.
            
         
               (6)
            
            
               The SSC considered extremely unlikely that the central nervous system was detectably infected below the age of 30 months even in cattle exposed to infection as calves. However, the exceptional detection of young animals with clinical signs of BSE supported a cautious approach and, therefore, the SSC recommended the removal of various SRM from cattle 12 months of age or older. That recommendation led to the management decision to set the age limit for the removal of certain SRM in bovine animals at 12 months.
            
         
               (7)
            
            
               Different factors indicate a favourable trend in the BSE epidemic and a clear improvement of the situation in recent years due to the risk-reducing measures in place, in particular the total feed ban and the removal and destruction of SRM. Furthermore inspection reports indicate that implementation of BSE requirements in the Member States has improved. Taking into account the favourable evolution of the BSE epidemic and new data available from BSE pathogenesis studies, the European Commission submitted a new mandate to the European Food Safety Authority in October 2004 for an assessment of the age limit for the removal of SRM in bovines.
            
         
               (8)
            
            
               The average age of BSE positive cases reported in the EU increased from 86 to 108 months between 2001 and 2004. Only four BSE cases under the age of 35 months of a total of 6 520 BSE cases on a total of close to 41 million animals tested since 2001 have been reported.
            
         
               (9)
            
            
               In its opinion of 28 April 2005 the EFSA concluded that on the basis of the current scientific knowledge likely detectable infectivity appears at about three quarters of the incubation period.
            
         
               (10)
            
            
               Therefore a scientific basis exists to review the age limit for the removal of certain SRM in bovine animals, in particular as regards the vertebral column. In view of the development of the infectivity in the central nervous system during the incubation period, the age structure of positive BSE cases and the decrease in exposure of cattle born after 1 January 2001 the age limit for removing vertebral column, including dorsal root ganglia of bovine animals as specified risk material can be increased to 24 months. This age limit can be reviewed in the light of the evaluation of the BSE epidemic.
            
         
               (11)
            
            
               Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 should therefore be amended accordingly.
            
         
               (12)
            
            
               The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee of the Food Chain and Animal Health,
            
         HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
   Article 1
   Annexes X and XI to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 are amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.
   Article 2
   This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
   It shall apply from 1 January 2006.
   
      This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
      Done at Brussels, 2 December 2005.
      
         
            For the Commission
         
         Markos KYPRIANOU
         
         
            Member of the Commission
         
      
   
   
      (1)  OJ L 147, 31.5.2001, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1292/2005 (OJ L 205, 6.8.2005, p. 3).
   
      ANNEX
      Annexes X and XI to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 are amended as follows:
      
                  1.
               
               
                  In Annex X, Chapter A, point 3 is replaced by the following:
                  
                              ‘3.
                           
                           
                              The national reference laboratories are:
                              
                                          Austria:
                                       
                                       
                                          
                                                      Österreichische Agentur für Gesundheit und Ernährungssicherheit GmbH, Institut für veterinärmedizinische Untersuchungen Mödling
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Robert Koch Gasse 17
                                                   
                                                
                                                      A-2340 Mödling
                                                   
                                                
                                    
                                          Belgium:
                                       
                                       
                                          
                                                      CERVA -CODA-VAR
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Centre d'Étude et de Recherches Vétérinaires et Agrochimiques
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Centrum voor Onderzoek in Diergeneeskunde en Agrochemie
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Groeselenberg 99
                                                   
                                                
                                                      B-1180 Bruxelles
                                                   
                                                
                                    
                                          Cyprus:
                                       
                                       
                                          
                                                      State Veterinary Laboratories
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Veterinary Services
                                                   
                                                
                                                      CY-1417 Athalassa
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Nicosia
                                                   
                                                
                                    
                                          Czech Republic:
                                       
                                       
                                          
                                                      Státní veterinární ústav Jihlava
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Rantířovská 93
                                                   
                                                
                                                      586 05 Jihlava
                                                   
                                                
                                    
                                          Denmark:
                                       
                                       
                                          
                                                      Danmarks Fødevareforskning
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Bülowsvej 27
                                                   
                                                
                                                      DK-1790 København V
                                                   
                                                
                                    
                                          Estonia:
                                       
                                       
                                          
                                                      Veterinaar- ja Toidulaboratoorium
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Kreutzwaldi 30
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Tartu 51006
                                                   
                                                
                                    
                                          Finland:
                                       
                                       
                                          
                                                      Eläinlääkintä- ja elintarvikelaitos
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Hämeentie 57
                                                   
                                                
                                                      FIN-00550 Helsinki
                                                   
                                                
                                    
                                          France:
                                       
                                       
                                          
                                                      Agence française de sécurité sanitaire des aliments
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Laboratoire de pathologie bovine
                                                   
                                                
                                                      31, avenue Tony Garnier
                                                   
                                                
                                                      69 364 LYON CEDEX 07
                                                   
                                                
                                    
                                          Germany:
                                       
                                       
                                          
                                                      Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Bundesforschungsinstitut für Tiergesundheit
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Anstaltsteil Insel Riems Boddenblick 5A
                                                   
                                                
                                                      D-17498 Insel Riems
                                                   
                                                
                                    
                                          Greece:
                                       
                                       
                                          
                                                      Ministry of Agriculture — Veterinary Laboratory of Larisa
                                                   
                                                
                                                      7th km of Larisa — Trikala Highway
                                                   
                                                
                                                      GR-411 10 Larisa
                                                   
                                                
                                    
                                          Hungary:
                                       
                                       
                                          
                                                      Országos Állategészségügyi Intézet (OÁI)
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Pf. 2.
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Tábornok u. 2.
                                                   
                                                
                                                      H-1581 Budapest
                                                   
                                                
                                    
                                          Ireland:
                                       
                                       
                                          
                                                      Central Veterinary Research Laboratory
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Young's Cross
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Celbridge
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Co. Kildare
                                                   
                                                
                                    
                                          Italy:
                                       
                                       
                                          
                                                      Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta — CEA
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Via Bologna, 148
                                                   
                                                
                                                      I-10154 Torino
                                                   
                                                
                                    
                                          Latvia:
                                       
                                       
                                          
                                                      State Veterinary Medicine Diagnostic Centre
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Lejupes Str. 3
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Riga LV 1076
                                                   
                                                
                                    
                                          Lithuania:
                                       
                                       
                                          
                                                      Nacionalinė veterinarijos laboratorija
                                                   
                                                
                                                      J. Kairiūkščio g. 10
                                                   
                                                
                                                      LT-08409 Vilnius
                                                   
                                                
                                    
                                          Luxembourg:
                                       
                                       
                                          
                                                      CERVA -CODA-VAR
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Centre d'Étude et de Recherches Vétérinaires et Agrochimiques
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Centrum voor Onderzoek in Diergeneeskunde en Agrochemie
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Groeselenberg 99
                                                   
                                                
                                                      B-1180 Bruxelles
                                                   
                                                
                                    
                                          Malta:
                                       
                                       
                                          National Veterinary Laboratory
                                          Albert Town Marsa
                                       
                                    
                                          Netherlands:
                                       
                                       
                                          
                                                      Centraal Instituut voor Dierziektecontrole-Lelystad
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Houtribweg 3g
                                                   
                                                
                                                      8221 RA Lelystad
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Postbus 2004
                                                   
                                                
                                                      8203 AA Lelystad
                                                   
                                                
                                    
                                          Poland:
                                       
                                       
                                          
                                                      Państwowy Instytut Weterynaryjny (PIWet)
                                                   
                                                
                                                      24-100 Puławy
                                                   
                                                
                                                      al. Partyzantów 57
                                                   
                                                
                                    
                                          Portugal:
                                       
                                       
                                          
                                                      Laboratório Nacional de Investigação Veterinária Estrada de Benfica
                                                   
                                                
                                                      701 P-1500 Lisboa
                                                   
                                                
                                    
                                          Slovakia:
                                       
                                       
                                          
                                                      State Veterinary Institute Zvolen
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Pod dráhami 918
                                                   
                                                
                                                      SK-960 86, Zvolen
                                                   
                                                
                                    
                                          Slovenia:
                                       
                                       
                                          
                                                      National Veterinary Institute
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Gerbičeva 60
                                                   
                                                
                                                      1000 Ljubljana
                                                   
                                                
                                    
                                          Spain:
                                       
                                       
                                          
                                                      Laboratorio Central de Veterinaria (Algete)
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Ctra. de Algete km. 8
                                                   
                                                
                                                      28110 Algete (Madrid)
                                                   
                                                
                                    
                                          Sweden:
                                       
                                       
                                          
                                                      National Veterinary Institute
                                                   
                                                
                                                      S-751 89 Uppsala
                                                   
                                                
                                    
                                          United Kingdom:
                                       
                                       
                                          
                                                      Veterinary Laboratories Agency
                                                   
                                                
                                                      Woodham Lane
                                                   
                                                
                                                      New Haw Addlestone Surrey KT15 3NB’
                                                   
                                                
                                    
                        
            
                  2.
               
               
                  Annex XI, Part A is amended as follows:
                  
                              (a)
                           
                           
                              point 1(a)(i) is replaced by the following:
                              
                                          ‘(i)
                                       
                                       
                                          the skull excluding the mandible and including the brain and eyes, and the spinal cord of bovine animals aged over 12 months, the vertebral column excluding the vertebrae of the tail, the spinous and transverse processes of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae and the median sacral crest and wings of the sacrum, but including the dorsal root ganglia of bovine animals aged over 24 months, and the tonsils, the intestines from the duodenum to the rectum and the mesentery of bovine animals of all ages;’
                                       
                                    
                        
                              (b)
                           
                           
                              point 13 is replaced by the following:
                              
                                          ‘13.
                                       
                                       
                                          Member States may decide to allow dispatch of heads or of un-split carcases containing specified risk material to another Member State, only after that other Member State has agreed to receive the material and has approved the specific dispatching conditions applicable to such transport.
                                          However, carcases, half carcases or half carcases cut into no more than three wholesale cuts, and quarters containing no specified risk material other than the vertebral column, including dorsal root ganglia, may be imported from a third country into a Member State, or may be dispatched to another Member State without the latter's prior agreement.
                                          Exports outside the Community of heads and of fresh meat of bovine, ovine or caprine animals containing specified risk materials shall be prohibited.’