Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001 designates certain bovine tissues as specified risk material, SRM, and lays down rules for its removal as a public health protection measure in the context of BSE controls.

In its opinion of 28 April 2005, the European Food Safety Authority concluded that a scientific basis existed to review the age limit for the removal of certain SRM in bovine animals, in particular as regards the vertebral column. In July 2005 the EU Commission adopted a reflection paper, the TSE, transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, roadmap, looking at the next steps that could be taken with regard to BSE in the short, medium and long term.

After consultation with member states and stakeholders, Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1974/2005 was adopted in December 2005. This regulation provided that the age limit for removing vertebral column, including dorsal root ganglia of bovine animals as SRM, could be increased from 12 to 24 months. Provision is also made for further review of the age limit, which would have to be on the basis of scientific advice.

The requirement for authorisation of retail establishments such as butchers for the specific activity of handling and removing SRM is prescribed in European and national regulations. The environmental health officers service of the Health Service Executive, under service contract to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, implements these regulations in retail butchers shops. Butchers are required either to declare non-handling of SRM or to comply with the standards for authorisation for handling of SRM. Authorisation ensures that this material is removed and disposed of in a manner that protects consumers. Butchers seeking authorisation need to demonstrate the presence of systems to ensure adequate identification, separation, removal, storage and disposal of SRM.

Retail butchers who choose not to handle SRM can handle all beef from animals under 24 months. In addition, unauthorised retail butchers can handle beef from animals over 24 months if it has been boned out or has its vertebral column removed prior to intake. The handling of SRM at retail level has been identified as a priority area for protection of consumers. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has consulted the trade on the approach to implementing these regulations and it has published an extensive set of frequently asked questions to assist the trade in understanding these requirements.

The EU Commission has indicated that an opinion is awaited from the European Food Safety Authority that will determine whether an increase in the age limit for the removal of vertebral column as SRM, from 24 months to 30 months, can be considered. However, it may still take some time for the European Food Safety Authority to reach a definitive conclusion on this matter.

Any provision for a change in the age limit for the removal of vertebral column would have to be on the basis of a proposal from the European Commission and approved within the framework of the standing committee on animal health and the food chain.

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