Prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs)

ACT: Commission Regulation 260/2003/EC amending Regulation 999/2001/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the eradication of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in ovine and caprine animals and rules for the trade in live ovine and caprine animals and bovine embryos.

CONTENT: in April 2002, the Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) recommended the culling of entire flocks in cases where scrapies has been diagnosed on a small ruminant holding. At the same time, however, the SSC noted that culling sheep of the ARR/ARR prion protein genotype would be of little “risk-reduced” benefit. In a bid to safeguard breeds which may have a low level of resistance it has been agreed to introduce a gradual approach to culling. Such a measure has the additional advantage of helping to prevent farmers from hiding suspected cases.  In adopting this act the rules for intra-Community trade in breeding sheep have been amended in order to remove scrapie-related restrictions from trade in sheep of the ARR/ARR genotype.

In a further amendment, based on advice from the SSC and OIE, it has been agreed to delete all trade conditions related to bovine embryos and ova. BSE related trade conditions for bovine embryos and ova in Regulation 999/2001 have therefore been deleted. Commission Decision 92/290/EEC, concerning certain protection measures relating to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the United Kingdom, as amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden has been repealed.

In order to enact the above provisions, Annexes VII, VIII and XI of Regulation 999/2001/EC have been amended.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 5 March 2003.