4.CONTROL OF TRANSMISSIBLE SPONGIFORM
ENCEPHALOPATHIES
(24343)
7098/03
COM(03) 103
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Draft Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001 as regards the extension of the period for transitional measures.
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| Legal base: | Article 152(4)(b) EC; co-decision; qualified majority voting
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| Document originated: | 5 March 2003
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| Deposited in Parliament: | 12 March 2003
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| Department: | Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
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| Basis of consideration: | EM of 19 March 2003
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| Previous Committee Report: | None, but see footnotes
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| To be discussed in Council: | 26-27 May 2003
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| Committee's assessment: | Politically important
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| Committee's decision: | Cleared
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Background
4.1 Our predecessors considered in 1999 and 2000 a draft
Regulation to provide a secure legal basis for Community measures[7]
to control transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). This
was debated in European Standing Committee A on 14 February 2001,
and subsequently adopted by the Council and European Parliament
as Regulation (EC) No 999/2001.[8]
The current proposal
4.2 One of the cornerstones of the Regulation is the
placing of Member States and third countries into five different
risk categories, which determine the standard of health protection
required in relation to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).
This classification has to be based on an evaluation by the Commission,
which it was originally envisaged would be completed by 30 June
2003, and the Regulation therefore provides for certain transitional
measures to apply until that date. However, as a result of problems
which have arisen over the methodology, the classification process
is taking longer than expected, and the purpose of this Regulation
is to extend the transitional period until July 2005.
The Government's view
4.3 In his Explanatory Memorandum of 19 March 2003, the
Minister for Fisheries, Water and Nature Protection at the Department
for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mr Elliot Morley) says
that the proposal is unlikely to have any significant effect on
the UK, and will allow the Commission both to complete the necessary
scientific risk assessments and to reach agreement at international
level on a methodology for determining BSE status. He adds that,
whilst the UK would prefer to see this categorisation completed
as soon as possible, it is also keen that the Community's rules
should be consistent with wider international requirements. He
considers that prolonging the transitional measures will ensure
that current levels of public health protection are maintained
within the Community and in relation to third countries.
Conclusion
4.4 Since it seems sensible in the circumstances to
prolong the transitional period provided for in Regulation (EC)
No 999/2001, we are clearing this proposal. Nevertheless, we think
it right to draw this slippage in the timetable originally envisaged
to the attention of the House.
7 These
include the use of animal feed, the removal of specified risk
material, and the placing on the market, and import and export,
of live animals and animal products. Back
8
OJ No. L.147, 31.5.01, p.1. Back
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