Resolution on the Bovine spongiform encephalopathy BSE and safety of animal feed

The Council closely examined the situation resulting from recent developments with regard to BSE and took note of the various emergency measures adopted over the last few days. It confirmed the need to guarantee the highest possible level of consumer protection and to win back consumer confidence. It also took note of the resolution passed by the European Parliament on the previous Thursday. It confirmed the importance of the measures taken with regard to traceability, including the labelling of processed products, and the withdrawal of specified risk material (SRM), at both Community and national level, to protect the health of consumers. At Community level the following measures have already been taken: - surveillance measures for the detection, control and eradication of BSE; - ban on feeding mammalian meat and bone meal to ruminants; - treatment of animal waste at 133 degrees and 3 bar for 20 minutes to reduce its infectivity; - withdrawal from the food chain of SRM from the bovine, ovine and caprine species; - implementation of a monitoring programme using rapid tests for categories of animals at risk. The Council noted that it was the responsibility of Member States to ensure that these measures were strictly implemented and took careful note of the Commission's intention to carry out the necessary inspections very promptly. The Council feels there is a need to place the accent on Community harmonisation of the approach to these matters. The Council therefore welcomed the Commission's recent proposals: - to extend approved rapid screening tests as of 1 January 2001 for all bovines at risk aged over 30 months; - in the light of the experience gained with this initial decision, to take a new decision on how the programme will be implemented as from 1 July 2001 for bovines aged over 30 months entering the food chain; - to exclude the use of carcasses in farm animal feed. �