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

The committee adopted the recommendation for 2nd reading (codecision procedure) by Dagmar ROTH-BEHRENDT (PES, D) broadly approving the Council's common position, subject to a couple of amendments. One of these stipulated that Member States classified as BSE-free under the regulation should maintain their right to require additional guarantees on animals entering their territory. The other amendment introduced a modification to the provisions governing the compulsory testing of cattle aged over 30 months. Essentially, the committee wanted to allow for sample testing at the lower age to be introduced, except in cases where Member States did not remove all animals over 30 months from the food chain and had detected BSE in animals over 24 months of age. It argued that this amendment recognised the different practices and concerns within the Member States, as well as the need for sound science and effective screening to prevail.�