Prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs); Commission implementing powers

PURPOSE: to introduce new implementing procedures concerning rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs).

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Regulation (EC) No 220/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, as regards the implementing powers conferred on the Commission.

CONTENT: following a first reading agreement with the European Parliament, the Council adopted a Regulation bringing the whole Regulation on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) into line with the new comitology rules, following a first-reading agreement with the Parliament.

The new legislative act confers scrutiny rights on the Council and the Parliament with regard to the articles concerning: (i) the approval of rapid tests; (ii) the extension of certain provisions to other products of origin; (iii) the adoption of implementing rules including the method of confirming bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in ovine and caprine animals; (iv) modification of the Annex; and (v) the adoption of transitional measures.

Since those measures are of general scope and are designed to amend non-essential elements of Regulation (EC) No 999/2001, inter alia, by supplementing it with new non-essential elements, they must be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny provided for in Decision 1999/468/EC.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 20/04/2009.