Monitoring the BSE crisis with regard to public health and food safety

The Council took note of a statement from Commissioner BYRNE on the state of play on BSE control and confirmed its determination to keep a close watch on any significant developments. Commissioner BYRNE's briefing focused on the following: the emergence of BSE in certain third countries and the measures they should be encouraged to take, the treatment of risk material, in particular the possibility of raising the age of cattle subject to spinal column removal, the special measures to be taken to prevent any risk of BSE in sheep and the problem of how to dispose of accumulated stocks of meat and bone meal and rendered fat.�